blooloop — Step inside the story: Disney, Epic Games & Cosm on the future of immersive storytelling

Hosted by Framestore, speakers from Disney, Epic Games and Cosm explore how nostalgia, established IP and immersive technology are creating new ways to experience familiar stories

As IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 drew to a close, a panel at Framestore's London headquarters brought together leaders from visual effects, theme parks, gaming and shared reality to consider a central question for location-based entertainment: how can new experiences deepen audiences' connections with the stories they already love?

The discussion, moderated by blooloop managing director Ella Baskerville, explored the enduring appeal of established intellectual property (IP), the role of nostalgia in immersive entertainment, and how technology can create new ways for audiences to engage with familiar fictional worlds.

Panellists included Julian Randall, business development and strategy lead at Epic Games; Andy Merkin, vice president of entertainment productions at Cosm; Bowie Faas, principal creative producer at Walt Disney Imagineering; and Eugénie von Tunzelmann, an independent visual effects supervisor and engineer whose career spans Framestore and Universal Creative.

The conversation offered a perspective on an industry increasingly blending physical attractions, digital environments and shared experiences.