It’s been a minute since Disney last made a movie based on one of its theme park rides, and it seems the company found its next target: “Space Mountain.” A film based on the popular ride will be coming to the big screen courtesy of the writer behind the upcoming “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series on Disney+.
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The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop on Disney’s plans to turn the popular “Space Mountain” ride at Disneyland into a feature film, and the studio has hired Joby Harold to write the script. Harold has recently worked on Zack Snyder‘s upcoming zombie film “Army of the Dead” as well as the upcoming “Star Wars” show based on the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Harold is also set to produce the film with partner Tory Tunner and their Safehouse Pictures banner. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich are also producing via their Rideback banner, after having produced the live-action remake of “Aladdin.”
According to the THR report, plot details for the film are being kept hidden, but it is described “as a family adventure.” Unlike many of Disney’s theme park rides, Space Mountain doesn’t have “scenes” or characters that could easily translate into a feature film story like “Pirates of the Caribbean” or “The Hunted Mansion,” so it’s hard to see how a film would maintain any recognizable connection to the ride.
Though there are versions of Space Mountain in five of the six Disney parks, the one in Disneyland Paris does have some personality or story to it. Originally dubbed “De la Terre à la Lune” this version of the ride was inspired by Jules Verne aesthetics, particularly his novel “From the Earth to the Moon.”
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If the film were to follow this particular version of the ride, it would be a different, more steampunk sci-fi story than what Disney has done in recent years, but their past track record with movies based on theme parks (not counting Pirates) has been spotty to put it mildly.