One of Epcot’s most iconic attractions could be heading to the small screen. Disney+ has handed a pilot order to Spaceship Earth, a new series inspired by the iconic Walt Disney World ride of the same name.
Originally opening in 1982, Spaceship Earth is a 15-minute slow-moving dark ride inside EPCOT’s iconic 18-story geodesic sphere. It takes guests on a time-travel journey showcasing the history of human communication, from prehistoric cave paintings and Egyptian hieroglyphs to the printing press, computers, and the modern age.
Produced by 20th Television, It: Welcome to Derry‘s Jason Fuchs is penning the pilot and will serve as showrunner. He also executive produces through Five Ten Productions, his company with his wife, producer, and actress Alexandra Fuchs.
Here is everything we know so far about the upcoming sci-fi series based on a Disney dark ride.
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When will Spaceship Earth premiere?
As the project was just given a pilot order, it will be a bit before the project lands on Disney+. Expect the series sometime in 2027 or 2028.
What is Spaceship Earth about?
The official 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.”
Who will star in Spaceship Earth?
The cast for the Disney+ pilot of Spaceship Earth has not been announced yet. The project is newly ordered, and casting details are still under wraps. Please check back for any updates.
Is this the first film based on a Walt Disney ride?
Oh, goodness no. Walt Disney has a long and storied history of turning to their own rides as inspiration for films and series. Some great, some good, and some…not so good.
Disney has produced about nine feature films and television projects based directly on its theme park attractions (so far). The first was 1997’s Tower of Terror, followed by 2002’s The Country Bears, one of the least successful adaptations, and 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which became the franchise’s biggest success.
Who is behind Spaceship Earth?
Jason Fuchs is attached to write the pilot and serve as showrunner while also executive producing through Five Ten Productions with his partner Alexandra Fuchs. Michael Waldron, Lee Toland Krieger, Adam Fishbach, and Waldron’s Anomaly Pictures partner Adam Fasullo round out the executive producing team.