Disney’s “Spaceship Earth” Series Adds Moana Star Catherine Laga’aia and Deacon Phillippe to Its Cast

There are few places quite like EPCOT when it comes to celebrating the wonders of imagination, innovation and the possibilities of tomorrow. For generations, the beloved Walt Disney World park has invited guests to explore everything from the cultures of our world to the extraordinary achievements of humanity, all while encouraging us to imagine what the future might hold. And standing proudly at the heart of it all is one of Disney’s most recognizable landmarks, Spaceship Earth.

The iconic geodesic sphere has become practically synonymous with EPCOT itself, welcoming countless visitors to embark on a journey through the history of human communication and the remarkable developments that have shaped our world. But what happens when that inspiration is transformed into an entirely new kind of adventure, one where the past and future must come together to protect the very world we call home?

Well, it looks like Disney is preparing to find out!

Disney+ is continuing development on Spaceship Earth, an upcoming science fiction television pilot inspired by the iconic EPCOT attraction, and two familiar young stars have officially joined the project. Catherine Laga’aia, who recently brought Disney’s beloved wayfinder to life in the live-action adaptation of Moana, and Deacon Phillippe have been announced as the leads of the upcoming pilot.

First revealed in August, Spaceship Earth introduces a rather ambitious premise that takes the familiar themes of discovery and humanity’s future in an entirely different direction. When a mission intended to prevent an approaching global catastrophe goes terribly wrong, a small group of teenagers from Earth’s past and future must unite to confront a mysterious threat connected to time itself. With the fate of the world potentially resting in their hands, these unlikely companions will have to find a way to work together despite coming from vastly different points in history.

It’s certainly an intriguing concept, particularly when considering the attraction that inspired it. While EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth takes guests on a journey through humanity’s past and the innovations that helped shape civilization, the upcoming series appears ready to explore what happens when those different eras collide. Bringing teenagers from across time together also introduces some interesting storytelling possibilities, especially when their understanding of the world, technology and even everyday life could be remarkably different.

For Laga’aia, the project marks another collaboration with Disney following her starring role opposite Dwayne Johnson in this summer’s live-action Moana. The Australian actress previously appeared in The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and is also set to lead the upcoming thriller Crashout. Meanwhile, Phillippe has been building his own collection of projects, including the independent drama Brother Save Us and the upcoming Netflix romantic comedy Better Than the Movies, based on Lynn Painter’s popular young adult novel. He is also set to appear in 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank.

Although Disney has not yet revealed which characters the two actors will portray, their casting offers the first glimpse at the young ensemble expected to bring this time-spanning adventure to life.

Behind the scenes, Spaceship Earth comes from Jason Fuchs, whose credits include IT: Welcome to Derry, and Michael Waldron, known for his work on Marvel Studios’ Loki. The pair wrote the pilot, with Fuchs also serving as showrunner. Lee Toland Krieger is attached to direct, while Fuchs, Waldron, Krieger, Adam Fishbach and Adam Fasullo serve as executive producers. The project is being developed through 20th Television.

And considering Waldron’s experience exploring complicated timelines and unexpected consequences in Loki, it’s interesting to see another story involving the mysteries of time taking shape under his creative involvement.

Of course, Spaceship Earth is still in the pilot stage, meaning a full series order and premiere date have not yet been announced. But the project already offers an intriguing new direction for Disney’s growing collection of stories inspired by its theme park attractions.

For those who have visited EPCOT, Spaceship Earth represents more than just an iconic structure at the entrance to the park. It’s a reminder of how far humanity has come and an invitation to consider the possibilities still waiting to be discovered. And while this new television adaptation appears to be taking a considerably more dramatic approach to those ideas, the connection between our past, present and future remains at the heart of its premise.

With Catherine Laga’aia and Deacon Phillippe now attached to lead the adventure, we’ll be keeping an eye on Spaceship Earth as development continues. After all, when the fate of humanity rests with a group of teenagers pulled from different moments in time, there’s no telling where this journey might take us next!