20,000 Leagues series at Disney+ preps for 2024 launch

Disney+ is preparing to dive into Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with a new Captain Nemo series. The project, titled Nautilus, calls for a 10-part live-action series based on the 19th-century novel. Produced by U.K. banners Moonriver TV and All3Media-owned Seven Stories, Disney’s new approach to the material will tell the origin story of Captain Nemo and his legendary submarine, The Nautilus. Per THR, “An Indian prince robbed of his birthright and family, a prisoner of the East India Company, and a man bent on revenge against the forces which have taken everything from him, Nemo set sail with his ragtag crew on board the awe-inspiring vessel, battling foes and discovering magical underwater worlds.”

Developed and co-produced by Moonriver TV’s Xavier Marchand and Seven Stories’ Anand Tucker, Nautilus is written and executive produced by James Dormer and is executive produced by Johanna Devereaux.

“Jules Verne’s story is a beloved classic all around the world,” said Devereaux. “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 on-screen characters. The series will be breathtaking, action-packed and a huge amount of fun.”

This is not the first time that Disney has chosen to go under the sea with Captain Nemo. Previously the studio adapted Verne’s iconic deep-sea adventure into a feature film starring James Mason as Nemo and Kirk Douglas as Ned Land. The film was directed by Richard Fleischer and featured a host of revolutionary effects. Well, maybe not by today’s standards, but back then, filming underwater was a big deal. Oh, and let’s not forget the legendary creature effects. I’m talking about puppets the size of flatbed trucks, their tentacles swiping to and fro. It was a sight to be seen at the time, and it’s going to look even better when modern technology is applied.

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