Ryan Reynolds Wants To Make A Movie Based On Disney’s Weirdest Attraction
Ryan Reynolds is teaming up with Raya and the Last Dragon writer Qui Nguyen to develop a film based on Disney's The Society of Explorers and Adventurers.
Disney learned at least two important lessons from its Pirates of the Caribbean films: thorough talent vetting is important, and movies based on Disney park rides can potentially make millions. Now MovieWeb and others report Ryan Reynolds is getting in on the action by working with Raya and the Last Dragon writer Qui Nguyen to develop a project based on The Society of Explorers and Adventurers.
MovieWeb notes that there’s already a Society of Explorers and Adventurers series in development for Disney+, but the Ryan Reynolds film is apparently separate from that. The site does note, however, that it could turn out that the series and show are part of a shared universe; presumably not unlike the streamer’s Marvel shows or the upcoming National Treasure series and the films it’s based on.
The film is set to be produced by Ryan Reynolds’s Maximum Effort and if it proves as successful as Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean movies or last year’s Jungle Cruise, then it will mark yet one more major franchise Reynolds has joined. That’s, of course, in addition to his lead role in the Deadpool films, the Free Guy sequels, the Red Notice sequels, and any potential addition to The Hitman’s Bodyguard Saga (we have yet to hear from, for example, The Hitman’s Wife’s Hairdresser’s Bodyguard).
But then again while movies based on Disney attractions have the potential to be hits, it’s far from automatic. Plenty have fallen flat, though that isn’t stopping the House of Mouse from putting as much cheese as they can in that particular basket. Along with the Ryan Reynolds film, there are currently features in various stages of development and/or production based on the Tower of Terror and Haunted Mansion.
Even if you don’t know who The Society of Explorers and Adventurers (SEA) are, you’re probably familiar with at least one or two of their members. Founded in 2001 Tokyo DisneySea’s Fortress Explorations, the SEA would soon spread to all Disney parks, often as Easter eggs in different attractions. The SEA is comprised of an eclectic group of fictional adventurers, though we don’t know yet who Ryan Reynolds is hoping to play; if he’s chosen an established character or wants to create a brand new one.
SEA member and falconer Carmelia Falco, for example, is the host character for the Soaring: Fantastic Flight attraction at Tokyo DisneySea. Dr. Albert Falls appears in the Jungle Cruise ride and Maestro D’Elfman shows up in Mystic Manor. Even Jock Lindsey–the pilot, played by Fred Sorenson, who helps Indiana Jones escape certain death in the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark–is said to be a SEA member.
Of course the biggest news Ryan Reynolds has been attached to recently is related to another Disney project, but one of a different type. The Wade Wilson actor revealed in a surprise social media post that Hugh Jackman had officially signed on to reprise the role of Wolverine in the upcoming Deadpool 3. Later we found out the film was delayed by a couple of months to November 2024.
