Iwerks' Latest Doc Shines Light on Disney's Creative Masters
Leslie Iwerks' new documentary 'Disney Worldbuilders' is set to debut on Disney+ on August 20. The film showcases the creative directors and executives behind some of Disney's most popular franchises, including Avatar, Frozen, Marvel, and Pixar.
Iwerks' previous works include 'The Imagineering Story', which explored attraction design and development at Disney theme parks, and 'Disneyland Handcrafted', a cinema verité look at the construction of Disneyland in 1955. This time out, she focuses on the leaders who brought these franchises to life.
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger features prominently in the film, sharing stories about his experiences with creative directors like James Cameron and Jennifer Lee. Iwerks also draws connections between the storytellers and worldbuilders of today and those who came before them, highlighting the importance of human imagination in creating these beloved franchises.
Cameron praises Disney's Imagineers for their work on Avatar: Flight of Passage, saying 'They did that on a five-minute ride? It would take me two hours in a movie to get you to that point.'