How did The Mandalorian's LED Volume stage change filmmaking forever?

The answer

The Mandalorian, which premiered on Disney+ on November 12, 2019, pioneered the use of Industrial Light & Magic's StageCraft technology - a massive 270-degree LED video wall standing 20 feet tall and 75 feet in diameter, called 'The Volume.' Instead of green screens, actors perform surrounded by photorealistic environments rendered in real time by Unreal Engine, the same technology used in video games. The LED panels provide realistic lighting and reflections on actors and props, eliminating costly post-production compositing. Director of photography Greig Fraser (who later won an Oscar for Dune) helped develop the system. The Volume now has permanent installations in Los Angeles, London, and Vancouver. Productions including The Batman, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Ahsoka have adopted the technology. ILM estimates it can reduce visual effects costs by 20–30%.