A must-see docuseries is coming to Disney+ whether you’re a film history buff or a fan of learning about how special effects were created in the olden days. Light & Magic will provide viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s most famous cinematic effects company, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). Even if you’ve never heard of ILM before, it’s the visual effects, animation, and virtual production division of Lucasfilm that has not only raised the bar for what was initially achievable in terms of film effects but has also continued to do so throughout the years. To see how much labour and attention went into making Star Wars’ initial movie is revealed in this teaser, which was released today.
As George Lucas and the original team take us back to the studios where it all began, the docuseries seems like a dream come true for Star Wars fans. “Immature” designers, those who claimed to have no idea what they were doing while laughing and joking their way through the workdays, will tell us all about it. You’ll be able to see how visual effects were created in the early days of cinema by watching a historical film of scenes from your favourite movies come together. The teaser claims that in addition to the history, the series will also focus on the present and future, illustrating how ILM has grown through the years.
We’ll hear from the likes of Ron Howard, James Cameron, and Steven Spielberg in addition to Lucas and the original ILM staff. Lawrence Kasdan, an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker with links to Lucasfilm and ILM, is at the head of the production. When it comes to filmmaking, Kasdan is recognised for his work on The Accidental Tourist, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and Solo: A Star Wars Story among many more films. Our backstage access just got better with Kasdan’s involvement with ILM. Along with Howard, Brian Grazer, Justin Wilkes, Kathleen Kennedy, and Michelle Rejwan, Kasdan also serves as an executive producer on the film.
Light & Magic will be available to stream in its entirety starting on July 27 on Disney+.