Disney+ developing ‘Spaceship Earth’ series based on EPCOT ride, with ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ co-showrunner Jason Fuchs writing a pilot

Disney is developing a new television project for Disney+, a series based on the EPCOT attraction “Spaceship Earth,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. The outlet reports that the project has received a pilot order, putting it into the formal scripted pipeline that precedes either a straight-to-series commitment or cancellation.

The announcement, as described by The Hollywood Reporter, places Jason Fuchs as the writer on the pilot. Fuchs is known for his television work including co-showrunning “IT: Welcome to Derry,” and he is also credited as the person writing the “Spaceship Earth” pilot for Disney+ in the early development stage.

“Spaceship Earth” is among the best-known experiences at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT theme park in Florida. As with other ride-to-screen adaptations, Disney has historically framed such projects as efforts to expand an existing attraction’s setting, themes, or characters into longer-form storytelling suitable for streaming audiences.

The Hollywood Reporter’s account focuses on the development status and writing attachment rather than on plot specifics, character rosters, or production timelines. It does not describe which production entity will lead the series, nor does it detail whether the pilot has begun production, only that a pilot order has been issued as part of Disney+’s slate management.

For viewers, the project indicates Disney+’s continued effort to translate theme park IP into scripted television, a strategy that has become a consistent feature of the platform’s content plan. For industry observers, the choice of a writer with a track record in serialized genre television indicates Disney may be aiming for a structured narrative approach rather than a purely documentary-style expansion of theme park lore.

The “Spaceship Earth” pilot remains subject to the standard development process. A pilot order does not guarantee a series pickup, and Disney will typically evaluate cost, scheduling, audience test feedback, and creative alignment before deciding whether to move forward with a full season.

If the pilot moves forward, the project would add to Disney+’s growing catalog of series tied to established entertainment brands and visitor-facing experiences, with all the associated rights management, theme-park integration considerations, and brand consistency requirements that come with translating a theme park attraction into episodic storytelling. No release date was disclosed in the reporting.