Leslie Iwerks is heading back to Disney+ with a brand-new feature documentary called Disney Worldbuilders, and it is set to premiere at D23 2026 before landing on the streamer in August. The film explores how some of Disney’s most beloved stories move from the screen into the real-world experiences fans walk through at the parks, and it brings together an enormous list of the people who helped make that happen. See the new trailer below!
What Is ‘Disney Worldbuilders’ About? Disney Worldbuilders sits down with Disney Legends, award-winning filmmakers, and creative leaders from across the company to talk through the memories and inspirations that shaped their careers. The documentary also gives fans an early look at what is coming next, including glimpses of new lands and experiences still taking shape. Among those featured are Bob Iger, Jennifer Lee, and Josh D’Amaro, alongside Dave Filoni, James Cameron, Jared Bush, Jon Favreau, Kevin Feige, and Pete Docter.
When Can You See It? The film debuts during a special panel presentation at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event on August 16, 2026, in Anaheim, ahead of its full release on Disney+ later that month. D23 attendees will hear directly from several of the featured storytellers before the screening.
Leslie Iwerks Is Carrying Forward a Family Legacy. For longtime followers of Iwerks’ work, this announcement lands with extra weight. Her father, Don Iwerks, a Disney Legend and the innovator behind Circle-Vision 360 and decades of Disney camera technology, passed away earlier this month at 96. Her grandfather, Ub Iwerks, helped bring Mickey Mouse to life. That three-generation connection to Disney’s history is part of what makes Iwerks’ documentary work feel less like a job and more like a family record. Disney Worldbuilders arrives as another chapter in that legacy, one that carries her family’s storytelling forward at a moment that feels especially personal.
A Natural Follow-Up to ‘Disneyland Handcrafted’. This is not Iwerks’ first trip into Disney’s archives this year. Just months ago, she released Disneyland Handcrafted, which rebuilt the story of Disneyland’s construction from rare 16mm footage and archival audio. Disney Worldbuilders feels like the natural next step, trading one park’s origin story for a much wider look at how Disney’s imagination keeps translating into real, physical places.
Leslie Iwerks Announces ‘Disney Worldbuilders,’ a New Documentary Coming to Disney+ in August
