[Los Angeles, California] – [May 02, 2024] – Academy Award-winning director Joe Johnston, known for his iconic work on the original Star Wars trilogy, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jumanji, Jurassic Park 3, and Captain America: The First Avenger, announces the formation of IRON APE, a new creative powerhouse dedicated to developing groundbreaking themed entertainment experiences and multi-platform narratives.
Johnston, through his long-standing history with Lucasfilm, played a pivotal role in shaping the Star Wars universe alongside George Lucas. He will leverage his extensive experience in visual effects and feature filmmaking to lead IRON APE’s creative vision. Joining Johnston at IRON APE are seasoned themed entertainment professionals Fred Bode, David Kenneth, and Brad McDonald.
● Fred Bode boasts over two decades of experience in the industry. Character Art artist selected by J.K. Rowling, he held the esteemed role of sole studio ambassador, liaison, and agent for character art development for the Harry Potter global consumer products merchandising and development. Notably, Mr. Bode served as Creative Director, Global Themed Entertainment at Warner Bros. Entertainment, where he played a key role in the design and execution of the award-winning Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi theme park. Bode’s impressive resume also includes positions as Global Director of Character Art at The Walt Disney Studios and Creative Director of Character Art & Design for Sony Pictures.
● David Kenneth brings over 20 years of experience to IRON APE, with a proven track record of creating award-winning projects across various platforms including location-based entertainment, film, television, and advertising. Kenneth’s diverse background encompasses project development, live-action & animation production, and experience design. He has contributed to acclaimed projects such as the Thea Award-winning Warner Bros. World – Abu Dhabi theme park, the Academy Award-winning film Spiderman 2, and the Emmy-winning miniseries The Triangle.
● Brad McDonald contributes over 30 years of architectural design expertise across iconic projects. His experience spans giants like Disney (Indiana Jones Adventure, The Grand Californian Hotel, Ratatouille), Universal Studios (Volcano Bay, Beijing’s Hammonds Restaurant concept), Tyler Perry Studios (NY Backlot), and more. In addition, McDonald’s architectural prowess has garnered numerous AIA and THEA Awards.
This collaborative force will focus on creating original stories, characters, and concepts with the goal of developing unique location-based attractions utilizing state-of-the-art ride systems integrated with innovative media displays.
IRON APE promises a truly immersive and interactive entertainment experience, where audiences can not only watch these stories unfold but also step into the worlds themselves.
About IRON APE
IRON APE is a creative group led by Academy Award-winning director Joe Johnston, dedicated to developing groundbreaking themed entertainment experiences and multi-platform narratives. The team combines expertise in filmmaking, visual effects, and ride system technology to take the world of immersive entertainment to new, never-before-seen levels.
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