Catherine Laga'aia to Lead Disney+ Spaceship Earth Pilot

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Disney's live-action Moana has a new mission. Catherine Laga'aia, who played the title role in this summer's remake, will star alongside Deacon Phillippe in Spaceship Earth , the Disney+ pilot inspired by the EPCOT attraction of the same name, Deadline reported exclusively. Character details are being kept under wraps. Disney+ announced the pilot order in August. From theme park ride to time-travel story The real Spaceship Earth is the geodesic sphere at the heart of EPCOT at Walt Disney World, home to a slow-moving ride through the history of human communication. The series takes the time-travel idea in a new direction. According to the official logline, "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." Key facts Format: Disney+ pilot Studio: 20th Television Writers: Jason Fuchs and Michael Waldron Showrunner: Jason Fuchs (Five Ten Productions) Pilot director: Lee Toland Krieger Executive producers: Fuchs, Waldron, Krieger, Adam Fishbach (Fishbach Productions), Adam Fasullo (Anomaly Pictures) The creative team Fuchs was most recently co-creator, co-showrunner and executive producer of HBO Max's IT: Welcome to Derry , WDW News Today notes. His writing credits include Argylle , Wonder Woman and Ice Age: Continental Drift . Waldron is best known for his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He wrote Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness , developed the Disney+ series Loki and co-wrote Avengers: Doomsday . Krieger's directing credits include You , Riverdale and Shadow & Bone . The leads Catherine Laga'aia Laga'aia landed the role of Moana opposite Dwayne Johnson after a worldwide casting search. The film has grossed more than $323 million worldwide since its release this summer, Deadline reports. The Australian actress previously co-starred in Prime Video's limited series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart , and next year she will lead the thriller Crashout from filmmaker Nick Annas. Deacon Phillippe Phillippe is in production on Better Than the Movies , a Netflix romantic comedy based on Lynn Painter's bestselling YA novel. He recently wrapped his first leading role in Brother Save Us , an indie drama from Jesse Behrenwald, and will also appear in Frankie Shaw's Miramax film 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank . Disney's ride-to-screen pipeline If the pilot goes to series, it would be the latest Disney title based on a park attraction. WDW News Today points to Haunted Mansion , which has inspired several films and specials, a Big Thunder Mountain Railroad film in the works, and Jungle Cruise with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. The biggest success remains Pirates of the Caribbean , with five films. The project is part of a busy period for Disney's streaming slate. We have tracked how the company is managing its franchises across platforms in Percy Jackson's Netflix window and Disney's licensing deal with Netflix , as well as wider television news. Not every Disney fan is convinced. Commenters on WDWMagic were split, with one calling it "a contrived TV show" and another hoping the characters might one day appear in the attraction if the series takes off. Why EPCOT fans are watching Spaceship Earth is one of the most recognisable structures in any Disney park, and the attraction has long been a fan favourite. WDWMagic's coverage links the casting news to its reporting on the ride's major refurbishment, so the series and the attraction could both be in the spotlight over the next few years. For now, the pilot is the first test of whether the idea can work as a drama for teenage viewers. What's next WDW News Today reports that casting for the pilot is still under way, so more names are likely soon. Disney+ has not set a shooting date or said when it will decide whether to order a full series. We will update this story as more cast members are confirmed. Sources: Deadline | WDW News Today | WDWMagic