Nautilus Disney+ - What We Know So Far

Disney has turned several popular theme park attractions into movies with varying degrees of success. A few notable examples include the huge movie franchise "Pirates of the Caribbean," which drew inspiration from the Disney theme park attraction by the same name; the less successful horror comedy "The Haunted Mansion" brought in elements of the "Haunted Mansion" ride; and the box office flop "The Country Bears" was inspired by the animatronic Disney attraction "Country Bear Jamboree."

In a bit of a change from the pattern of rides-turned-films, Disney+ recently announced that they're working on a series titled "Nautilus," which is set to be based on the Jules Verne classic novel "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas: A World Tour Underwater" (via Variety). Disney first released a live-action adaptation of the novel in 1954, which in turn inspired several attractions and rides in Disney theme parks around the world (via Photos Magiques). The upcoming series is set to tell the origin story of the famed fictional Verne character Captain Nemo and his titular submarine, the Nautilus. It's expected to be an even more enthralling adaptation of the source material. And who knows — we may even get some new theme park rides out of it.

Let's take a look at the upcoming Disney+ series, and everything we know so far about its release date, cast, and plot.

The exciting upcoming "Nautilus" series was recently announced, so it's still in the early stages of development. According to Variety, filming is expected to begin in early 2022, so it's possible we can expect a Disney+ release date to be set for 2023 or later. In any case, such a big project is likely to take some time to film and produce, and will surely be worth the wait.

A "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" remake has been in the works for more than a decade. A 2009 Variety report reveals with "Charlie's Angels" helmer McG was originally set to direct a remake. It was intended to be a closer look at Captain Nemo's origin story, but the production was ultimately put on hold after Disney had already spent millions of dollars on pre-production, per the Los Angeles Times. In 2010, /Film shared the news that David Fincher was planning to direct a new version of the film. By early 2013, The Hollywood Reporter announced the Australian government even offered to pay $20 million to shoot the movie down under. Unfortunately, Fincher's version was also shelved a few months later (via Collider).

Here's hoping that "Nautilus" stays the course, and we finally get an updated rendition of Verne's classic story.

There haven't been any official casting announcements for "Nautilus," so the possibilities of who could potentially star in the series are endless. An official announcement should be coming soon now that the project has been revealed. 

When McG was helming a remake, he wanted Will Smith to play the role of Captain Nemo because "he'll respond to the challenge," as he explained to IGN Movies in 2009. When Fincher was on deck for a remake, he courted Brad Pitt for the lead. Pitt ultimately declined the role, per Digital Spy. Fincher then considered Channing Tatum for the role, but, according to IndieWire, Disney executives wanted Chris Hemsworth. As such, the casting was one of the many reasons the film never came to fruition.

There are hundreds of talented working actors who would be amazing as the stars of "Nautilus." Dev Patel has proven his talent for action-adventure roles in "The Green Knight," which could put him into casting considerations. Pretty much every performance Daniel Kaluuya gives is a tour de force, thus making him another great option. Additionally, Oscar Isaac is no stranger to complex characters (or action roles, for that matter), making him a candidate. There's also "Daredevil" star Charlie Cox, who could definitely play a convincing pirate, as seen in "Stardust."

As previously stated, the plot of "Nautilus" will be a retelling of Jules Verne's novel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." According to a description of the upcoming series from Variety, it's set to "tell the origin story of Captain Nemo and his legendary submarine, The Nautilus, told from his point of view. An Indian prince robbed of his birthright and family and a prisoner of the East India Company, Nemo is bent on revenge against the forces which have taken everything from him. Once he sets sail with his ragtag crew on board the technologically advanced submarine Nautilus, he battles with his enemy and also discovers a magical underwater world."

One of the executive producers of "Nautilus" is Johanna Devereaux, who works for Disney+ in the scripted originals department. In a report by The Hollywood Reporter, Devereaux recently discussed the upcoming 10-part adaptation in regard to its source material, saying, "Jules Verne's story is a beloved classic all around the world. It's a huge privilege to bring the Nautilus and her crew to life again in such a bold, exciting way, with a diverse team of creative talent and onscreen characters. The series will be breathtaking, action-packed and a huge amount of fun."