Industrial Light & Magic have announced National Geographic: Beyond and Disney Immersive Cinema by ILM, is in development for Meta VR Glasses, at Meta Connect 2026. The experiences showcase ILM’s continued exploration of emerging technologies and new possibilities for storytelling.
“Both experiences reflect our belief that the future of entertainment is about crafting a new canvas for storytelling that allows creators to immerse the audience in ways never before possible,” said Shereif Fattouh, executive producer at ILM, in a press release. “With Meta VR Glasses, we can bring fans closer to real places, beloved characters, and iconic moments that are authentic to the filmmakers’ vision.”
Created by ILM in collaboration with National Geographic, and according to the press release, this new experience combines immersive technology with impactful storytelling designed to bring audiences closer to wildlife and the natural world in entirely new ways.
Featuring real, stereoscopic 180-degree footage filmed on location in Africa specifically for Meta’s devices, National Geographic: Beyond places viewers face-to-face with animals and landscapes. The experience also explores other forms of immersive storytelling, offering audiences additional ways to connect with some of Africa’s greatest landscapes and wildlife, with further details to be shared by ILM at a later date.
Disney Immersive Cinema by ILM aims to transform how audiences experience a movie. Built as a hub for VR enhanced versions of feature films, the experience combines traditional cinematic storytelling with immersive environmental effects.
Through ILM’s cinema technology, elements of key scenes aim to expand into the viewer’s surroundings, creating a deeper sense of presence. The core movie remains the centerpiece, while spatial enhancements aim to deepen immersion and strengthen emotional connection to the story.
Disney Immersive Cinema by ILM features Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: A New Hope and Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War. Both experiences are currently in development for Meta VR Glasses and Meta Quest 3 and 3S.
Additional details about both experiences will be announced at a later date.