Meet The Minds Behind The Magic In Disney Worldbuilders Documentary
by Explore Disney+ Contributor
August 4, 2026
Leslie Iwerks takes us inside the stories, places and creative breakthroughs behind Disney's most iconic worlds in her latest documentary
Documentarian and creator of Disneyland Handcrafted, Leslie Iwerks, continues to explore Disney’s past, present, and future in an ambitious new project coming to Disney+ on August 20. Packed with candid interviews with the visionaries behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Pixar, Frozen, and more, the documentary reveals how bold ideas become unforgettable worlds while offering a glimpse at what's still to come. Find out more about the pioneers featured in the documentary, the worlds it explores, and when you can stream Disney Worldbuilders after its D23 world premiere.
Watch the Disney Worldbuilders Trailer
Disney Worldbuilders: Inside Leslie Iwerks' New Documentary
In this new feature-length documentary, some of Disney’s most influential storytellers reflect on the memories, moments, and creative breakthroughs that have shaped their work so far.
"I wanted to understand what ignites the imaginations of the storytellers behind some of the world’s most beloved stories," Leslie Iwerks
When does Disney Worldbuilders premiere?
Disney Worldbuilders will have its world premiere at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event on Sunday, August 16.
When does Disney Worldbuilders release on Disney+?
The documentary begins streaming August 20 on Disney+.
Who is Leslie Iwerks?
Iwerks is an Academy Award®- and Emmy®-nominated filmmaker whose family has a long history with Disney. Her grandfather, Ub Iwerks, was Walt Disney's original animator and co-creator of Mickey Mouse. Her father, Don Iwerks, was a camera technician and inventor at Walt Disney Studios. Both Ub and Don are Academy Award® winners and Disney Legends.
You can learn more about her creative process in our interview with Leslie Iwerks about her recent documentary, Disneyland Handcrafted.
Meet The Minds Behind The Magic
Disney Worldbuilders gets up-close-and-personal with some of Disney's most influential voices.
Storytelling Across Disney, Pixar, Marvel & Star Wars
Through interviews with Bob Iger, James Cameron, Jon Favreau, Kevin Feige, Jennifer Lee, Pete Docter, Dave Filoni, Jared Bush, and Josh D’Amaro, the documentary spans their work on Avatar, Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Pixar, Frozen, Zootopia, and Disney Experiences.
"As I sat down with each of them, I discovered a common thread: they often traced their creative journeys back to a single childhood moment — walking through the gates of Disneyland and realizing that impossible dreams could become real. It’s a feeling I know well, and one that has shaped my own journey. My hope is that audiences leave with that same sense of possibility and inspiration." Leslie Iwerks
Their conversations reveal a creative practice that moves in every direction, where a story can inspire a place, and a place can inspire the next story. It's a way of creating that traces back to Walt himself — a creative tradition that continues to shape every new story Disney tells.
A Look At New Worlds On The Way
Disney Worldbuilders captures the architects behind some of Disney’s biggest franchises as they reflect, in their own words, on what they've built together and where they're taking it next. Audiences will get a look at upcoming lands at Disney destinations around the world. The documentary offers a window into one of the most ambitious periods of creative expansion in the company's history, with much more still to come.
More Documentaries From Leslie Iwerks
Iwerks has directed acclaimed projects such as the docuseries The Imagineering Story and feature-length documentaries such as The Pixar Story, and most recently, Disneyland Handcrafted.
