Disney+ has ordered a pilot for a “Spaceship Earth” series, named for and inspired by the iconic EPCOT dark ride. Jason Fuchs will serve as showrunner and executive producer, with Michael Waldron executive producing. Lee Toland Krieger will executive produce and direct the pilot, and casting is now underway, according to Variety.
Disney+ Orders “Spaceship Earth” Series Pilot Based on EPCOT Attraction
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Disney+ ordered a pilot for a “Spaceship Earth” series inspired by the EPCOT ride
- Jason Fuchs will showrun, with Lee Toland Krieger directing the pilot
- The project follows a string of recent Disney+ pilot orders
What Is “Spaceship Earth”?
The pilot’s logline reads:
When a mission to avert an imminent global cataclysm goes awry, a small band of teenagers from Earth’s past and future must join forces to confront a threat as vast and mysterious as time itself.
Jason Fuchs most recently co-created “IT: Welcome to Derry” for HBO Max, serving as co-showrunner and executive producer on the series. His past writing credits include “Argylle,” “Wonder Woman,” and “Ice Age: Continental Drift.”
Waldron is best known for his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He wrote the screenplay for “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and developed the Disney+ series “Loki.” He’s also listed as a co-writer for “Avengers: Doomsday.” Waldron also created the Starz wrestling drama “Heels,” co-created the Hulu series “Chad Powers” starring Glen Powell, and wrote for “Rick and Morty.”
Spaceship Earth at EPCOT
Spaceship Earth has anchored EPCOT since the park opened in 1982. The attraction sits inside the geodesic sphere that has become the park’s defining symbol. The interior has changed and updated over the decades, but it has kept its focus on the history of communication. The ride traces breakthroughs from early communication like cave wall paintings through the rise of the internet.
Should the pilot go to series, it would join a growing list of onscreen projects drawn from Disney theme park attractions. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise remains the most successful example, having grossed over $4.5 billion worldwide. Other ride-inspired films include “Haunted Mansion,” “Country Bear Jamboree,” and “Jungle Cruise.”
Disney previously attempted an interconnected universe of shows built around Magic Kingdom itself, starting with a “Society of Explorers and Adventurers” series from Ronald D. Moore, as we reported when that project was first announced. None of those projects ever moved forward.
The “Spaceship Earth” order also marks the latest in a growing string of pilot pickups at Disney+. Recent orders include a pilot for a reboot of “The Mickey Mouse Club” plus pilots for shows based on “The Last Kids on Earth” and the film “Aquamarine.” Disney+ also picked up a series based on “Afterlife with Archie,” which had previously received a script-to-series commitment. We’ll continue to follow the “Spaceship Earth” pilot as casting continues and share updates as they become available.
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