This afternoon, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Ron Moore, the writer/producer behind For All Mankind, Outlander and Battlestar Galactica, is developing a “Magic Kingdom TV Universe” that will bring Disney’s most famous attractions to life on Disney+. Moore is reportedly a “Disney superfan,” and is currently writing the Swiss Family Robinson series coming to Disney+, which will be helmed by acclaimed director of Crazy Rich Asians, John M. Chu.
Swiss Family Robinson will not be a part of the Magic Kingdom universe, but instead, the massive project will begin with a series about The Society of Explorers and Adventurers. This fictional society was created by Imagineers, and many Disney attractions around the world feature deeply hidden easter eggs about the mysterious organization. The history of this society is so incredibly complex that it’s likely that even the biggest Disney fan hasn’t found all the clues, but this in-depth article from Attractions Magazine breaks down most of them.
It’s unclear if Ron Moore’s TV show about the society will stick to the already established lore, but since the show’s producers will be working directly with the Imagineers, it’s very possible. The Hollywood Reporter revealed some characters that have reportedly been considered for the Society series, such as a boat captain from the Jungle Cruise, a prospector at Big Thunder Mountain, or the climbers of the Matterhorn at Disneyland.
References to the organization can be found within the following rides and attractions: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Fortress Explorations, Skipper Canteen, Miss Adventure Falls, Soaring: Fantastic Flight, Mystic Manor and Tropical Hideaway. The organization canonizes characters like Albert Falls, whose name comes from a joke on the Jungle Cruise, and Henry Mystic, from Hong Kong Disneyland’s Mystic Manor.
On The Hollywood Reporter’s podcast, Moore said the following: “I decided to go there mostly because my childhood was built around a lot of things that were Disney. I am a huge fan and aficionado of the Disneyland park in Anaheim to the point where I would go there by myself periodically and ride the rides. The opportunity for me to get to work on a lot of the classic IP that Disney has and things in their library that meant so much to me as a child growing up and that I have shared with my children ultimately was just something I couldn’t pass up.”
It is unclear exactly where in the development process Moore and Disney are at, but it is being reported that a writing team is already being assembled. This TV universe likely comes as a result of Disney moving many of their assets to support Disney+ and their streaming arm amidst this tumultuous time for theme park visits and moviegoing, as well as Disney wanting to further cement their original IP and create a wider awareness of it.
What Disney attractions or characters would you like to see explored in this universe? Let us know in the comments!
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