StageCraft was the ILM technology developed for The Mandalorian’s digital backgrounds. It used large LED screens to display computer-generated environments around the performers instead of relying entirely on green-screen compositing.
ILM developed StageCraft with Epic Games, using Unreal Engine to render virtual sets in real time. The production could place actors inside a circular “volume” surrounded by a 360-degree LED wall and ceiling. The camera perspective adjusted the background so it appeared to have natural parallax as the camera moved.
The system did more than show scenery. The LED wall provided interactive light and reflections, which was especially useful for the Mandalorian’s shiny armor. Physical set pieces, such as parts of the Razor Crest, were combined with digital environments to make scenes feel tangible.
A common mix-up is confusing StageCraft with a specific screen or studio. StageCraft is the broader virtual-production system; the LED volume is the physical space where it was used. ILM had tested related ideas on Solo: A Star Wars Story, but The Mandalorian made the method widely known.