Disney has plans for a “Society of Explorers and Adventurers” film, with “Strange World” filmmaker Qui Nguyen writing the script, and Ryan Reynold’s Maximum Effort company aboard to produce.
What is the Society of Explorers and Adventurers?
The Society of Explorers and Adventurers, also known as S.E.A., is a fictional organization in various attractions at the Disney theme parks created by Walt Disney Imagineering.
According to lore, the S.E.A. Mission Statement reads:
“The mission of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers is to collect, conserve, and curate valuable cultural and artistic artifacts from around the world and make them available to the public in an artistically pleasing and sensitive manner. It is furthermore the mission of the organization to equip and mount socio-cultural expeditions to discover, explore, chronicle and protect the artistic achievements of human society, past and present, exalted and forgotten.”
Legend says it was first introduced in 2001 as part of Tokyo DisneySea’s Fortress Explorations before going on to play a part in Hong Kong Disneyland’s Mystic Manor and other park attractions across the globe.
However, the now-defunct The Adventurers Club at Walt Disney World’s Pleasure Island was reported to be fictionally founded by S.E.A. member Merriweather Adam Pleasure, which would make it the society’s first-ever appearance on a Disney property in 1989.
A mystery about a mysterious society’s origins? What are the odds?
The Film
Not much is known about the story, but reportedly Nguyen plans to pursue alternative angles to S.E.A. mythology in present day by adding a new supernatural element to the history, and following new characters not present in the original S.E.A. lore.
Disney is hoping to use this film to launch a franchise of movies based on S.E.A. characters and adventures.
It should also be noted that this new feature project is different than the upcoming Disney+ series from exec producer and writer Ron Moore (“For All Mankind”) that is also based on S.E.A.
Moore’s series is set in the Magic Kingdom Universe, where the themed lands and characters of Disney’s parks and classic films exist in another reality.
Are you excited by a film franchise centered on the “Society of Explorers and Adventurers,” or do you feel the series is enough? Let us know in the comments.