Disney has a long history of turning its beloved theme park attractions into screen adaptations, with Pirates of the Caribbean being the gold standard. But while the big screen has seen its share of ride-inspired films—from Jungle Cruise to The Haunted Mansion—the small screen has been relatively quiet. That's about to change with a major new project from Disney+.
The streaming service has officially ordered a pilot for a sci-fi series based on Spaceship Earth, the iconic EPCOT attraction housed inside the park's massive silver geodesic sphere. The show has already assembled a powerhouse creative team: Jason Fuchs (known for IT: Welcome to Derry) will serve as showrunner, Michael Waldron (a key figure behind Loki) is on board as executive producer, and Lee Toland Krieger (director of You) will helm the pilot. 20th Television is attached as the studio.
For those unfamiliar, Spaceship Earth has been a cornerstone of EPCOT since the park opened in 1982. The ride takes guests on a journey through time, exploring humanity's greatest technological achievements—from the dawn of communication to the digital age. It's a quintessential Disney experience, blending education with imagination.
Now, that concept is being reimagined for a serialized format. According to early plot details, the series will follow a group of teenagers from different eras—both past and future—who must unite to prevent a catastrophic event that threatens the entire universe. It's a high-concept premise that feels perfectly suited for the streaming era, where ambitious sci-fi storytelling can flourish.
The announcement comes at a strategic moment, just ahead of the D23 Expo, scheduled for August 14–16 in Anaheim. Disney is expected to unveil a massive slate of upcoming projects there, including Avengers: Doomsday, the Ryan Gosling-led Star Wars: Starfighter, and Incredibles 3. Fans are also eagerly awaiting updates on returning Disney+ favorites like Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 and Ahsoka Season 2.
While the Spaceship Earth series is still in early development, the involvement of such seasoned creators suggests Disney is serious about expanding its theme park IP into premium streaming content. This move also aligns with a broader trend of Disney leaning into its vast library of attractions and characters to fuel its streaming ambitions.
As the streaming landscape evolves, Disney+ continues to bet big on original programming that leverages its unique assets. Whether Spaceship Earth will become the next Pirates-level phenomenon remains to be seen, but the creative pedigree alone is enough to generate excitement.
Stay tuned for more updates as the project develops, and be sure to check out our coverage of Disney's shifting streaming strategy and D23 collectibles for more context on where this fits into the bigger picture.
