Disney+ Orders Sci-Fi Pilot Based on EPCOT’s Iconic ‘Spaceship Earth’ Attraction

Disney+ is continuing its tradition of adapting theme park attractions for the screen by ordering a pilot for a new series titled ‘Spaceship Earth,’ inspired by the legendary dark ride located inside EPCOT’s iconic 18-story geodesic sphere. The announcement marks the latest effort by the entertainment giant to translate its beloved theme park experiences into original scripted content for streaming audiences.

The upcoming science fiction series will follow a departure from the attraction’s original concept. Rather than recreating the slow-moving journey through the history of human communication that guests experience on the ride, the TV adaptation uses the time-travel framing as a launching point for an original adventure narrative.

According to the official description, 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.

The creative team behind the project represents significant talent from multiple corners of the entertainment industry. Jason Fuchs penning the pilot and serving as showrunner, bringing his experience from HBO’s acclaimed horror series ‘IT: Welcome to Derry.’ Fuchs also recently launched his own production company, Five Ten Productions, with his wife, producer and actress Alexandra Fuchs, through which he will executive produce the project.

Collaborating with Fuchs on the pilot script is Michael Waldron, the head writer behind Marvel’s Loki and the screenwriter of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, who is also attached to the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Waldron will serve as an executive producer through his Anomaly Pictures banner.

The pilot will be directed by Lee Tolant Krieger, whose credits include You, Riverdale, and Shadow & Bone. Krieger will also executive produce the pilot. Additional executive producers include Adam Fishbach, known for his work on ‘Love, Victor’ and ‘The Other Black Girl,’ and Adam Fasullo of Anomaly Pictures.

The project is being produced by 20th Television, the studio division responsible for bringing numerous television projects to life. The series is expected to premiere on Disney+ in 2027 or 2028, contingent upon the pilot receiving approval to move forward as a full series order.

The Spaceship Earth attraction itself has been a cornerstone of EPCOT since the park’s opening in 1982. The 15-minute slow-moving dark ride inside EPCOT’s iconic 18-story geodesic sphere, showcasing the history of human communication. The ride has undergone periodic updates over the decades, most recently being refreshed in 2007, and continues to welcome millions of visitors annually.

This represents the latest in a series of Disney’s efforts to adapt its theme park attractions for film and television. The most successful of those is the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, which has grossed billions worldwide. Other adaptations have included multiple Haunted Mansion films, Jungle Cruise, and Tomorrowland, with varying degrees of commercial and critical success.

The casting process for the teenage ensemble at the center of the story is currently underway, though no names have been officially attached to the project as of now. Given the creative firepower assembled for this pilot, industry observers will be closely watching its development as Disney continues to expand its slate of theme park-inspired content for the streaming era.

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