Filmmaker Leslie Iwerks is no stranger to pulling back the curtain on the magic of Disney. Her documentaries “The Pixar Story, “Disneyland Handcrafted” and “The Imagineering Story” all delve behind the scenes of the design and development processes that go into building Disney parks around the world.
Her newest documentary, “Disney Worldbuilders,” premieres on Disney+ on Aug. 20. Bob Iger, James Cameron, Jon Favreau, Kevin Feige, Jennifer Lee, Pete Docter, Dave Filoni, Jared Bush and Josh D’Amaro anchor the narrative as they share behind-the-scenes moments that helped turn worlds like “Avatar,” “Star Wars,” the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Pixar, “Frozen” and “Zootopia” into Disney park experiences.
Leslie Iwerks and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.
Disney is in Iwerks’ DNA. Her father, Donald Iwerks, spent over six decades on projects for The Walt Disney Company and his own studio, Iwerks Entertainment. He pioneered innovations in projection technology, 3D and large-format filmmaking, and immersive attractions that changed how audiences experience stories. Her grandfather, Ub Iwerks, cocreated Mickey Mouse, designing and drawing the iconic character while working alongside Walt Disney in 1928.
