Disney+ Casts Catherine Laga’aia and Deacon Phillippe in ‘Spaceship Earth’ Pilot

Disney is heading back to its theme parks for television inspiration, and this time, one of EPCOT's most recognizable attractions is getting the Hollywood treatment.

Catherine Laga’aia and Deacon Phillippe have been tapped to star in Spaceship Earth, an upcoming Disney+ sci-fi pilot inspired by the Walt Disney World attraction of the same name. The project was first announced in August, and with its two leads now attached, the potential series is beginning to take shape.

Laga’aia recently stepped into the spotlight as the title character in Disney's live-action Moana, while Phillippe, the son of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, has appeared in projects including Never Have I Ever and Brother Save Us. Details about their characters are being kept under wraps.

What Is Disney+'s Spaceship Earth About?

Anyone who has visited EPCOT knows Spaceship Earth as the massive silver sphere that greets guests entering the park. Inside, the attraction takes riders through the history of human communication, exploring how civilization has evolved over thousands of years.

The television adaptation, however, is taking that concept in a much more dramatic direction. The story follows a group of teenagers from different points in Earth's past and future who must work together after a mission intended to prevent a global catastrophe goes wrong. With a mysterious threat connected to time itself looming, the unlikely group finds itself facing a crisis that could affect humanity's future.

So, we're going from a relaxing ride through history to teenagers trying to save the world across different timelines? That's quite the upgrade.

Who's Behind the Disney+ Pilot?

The project has some familiar names working behind the scenes. Jason Fuchs, known for IT: Welcome to Derry, and Michael Waldron, whose credits include Marvel's Loki, wrote the pilot. Fuchs will also serve as showrunner, while Lee Toland Krieger is attached to direct.

20th Television is producing the project, which continues Disney's long-running tradition of finding new stories within its theme park attractions. From Pirates of the Caribbean to Jungle Cruise, Disney has never been shy about bringing its rides to the screen.

For now, Spaceship Earth remains in the pilot stage, meaning Disney+ has not committed to a full season. There's also no premiere date, but the combination of time travel, a young ensemble, and a creative team experienced in genre television gives the project plenty of possibilities.

Whether Spaceship Earth becomes Disney+'s next big adventure remains to be seen, but the journey has officially begun.