Disney+ just ordered a pilot for SPACESHIP EARTH, a series based on the famous EPCOT ride of the same name.
The logline for the pilot 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.”
The EPCOT ride takes its riders through stages of development in human communication. As it’s been around since the ’80s, it has received a lot of updates over the years, Geek Tyrant pointed out.
The live-action series will feature showrunner Jason Fuchs. Michael Waldon will executive produce under Anomaly Pictures. Lee Toland Krieger will direct and executive produce. Adam Fishbach and Adam Fasullo will also executive produce, Variety reported.
Spaceship Earth has been central to EPCOT since it opened in 1982. Other franchises based on Disney rides are PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, HAUNTED MANSION, COUNTRY BEAR JAMBOREE, TOMORROWLAND and JUNGLE CRUISE.
Related: Did Disney Just Bring Back Christian Events at Epcot?
Disney+ also recently ordered a pilot for THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE reboot and pilots for series based on THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH, AQUAMARINE and the Afterlife with Archie comic.
Disney Tourist Blog writer Tom Bricker said the show seems “unnecessary” and are unlikely to do well.
He said, “Quite simply, no one was asking for this. Not even the most diehard EPCOT Center enthusiasts.” He swapped a line from JURASSIC PARK, saying, “Disney’s producers were so preoccupied with whether they could make a Spaceship Earth show, that they didn’t stop to think about if they should.”
Disney and Disney+ have overspent on content several times and created less quality content as a result. This could be another example of that.
The public’s view seems very mixed.
“Oh no,” was one person’s response to the news. Another said, “honestly not mad at this AT ALL.” Another comment read, “If you use this as an excuse to mess up my favorite ride I will roll the ball into the lake at Epcot.”
The ride was famously expected to get a grand update, but it never happened due to lower funds from the pandemic, and fans have been waiting ever since.
One person joked about the series news, “Whatever will help pay for a ride renovation at this point — maybe we need to open a GoFund Me.” Another said, “This sounds terrible. I really really hope it doesn’t catch on and they ruin the ride to accommodate the new story.”
It’s a wonder which will get an update first — the series or the ride itself.
Read Next: Disney’s Parks Are Losing Their Magic With Customers
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
