NEW: Swiss Family Robinson Series Coming to Disney+

Disney has announced plans to adapt the classic novel Swiss Family Robinson into an original series for its streaming platform, Disney+. Adapted from the book by Johann Wyss, the show will take place on a tropical island and follow the adventures of the Robinson family as they battle pirates, survive natural disasters, and master new survival skills. The series is being produced by Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan, who serves as executive producer along with fellow producer Mona Scott-Young.

The show’s screenplay was written by Michael Green, the acclaimed scribe behind the Emmy-winning adaptation of The Bible and the Golden Globe-winning drama Logan. Green also executive produces alongside director David Boyd.

The show follows the Robinsons, a British family which consists of an aerospace engineer father, Rupert, his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children, Ernie, Fritz, and Faith. After their spacecraft crashes on a mysterious island, the family must use their resourcefulness and ingenuity to find a way off the island. As they work together to escape, they explore the wonders of the strange land, encountering the strange creatures and unexpected dangers that inhabit it.

The cast of the show is led by actors Russell Crowe (Gladiator, Les Miserables) and Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Covenant). Other members of the ensemble include Pose star Angelica Ross as Ernie, Alexa Swinton as Fritz, and newcomer Emilia Jones as Faith.

The series is written and produced with the intention of being both entertaining and educational. Producers have gone to great lengths to ensure that the series is historically accurate, consulting historians and academics to give viewers a greater insight into the world of Swiss Family Robinson and its characters.

Swiss Family Robinson is the latest in a line of Disney+ originals, joining the already stellar lineup of content available on the streaming platform. Along with live-action remakes of classic Disney films such as The Lion King, Aladdin, and Maleficent, the service also houses original series such as The Mandalorian, High School Musical: The Series, and Lady and the Tramp. Viewers can look forward to Swiss Family Robinson making its debut on Disney+ sometime this year.