Disney Plus announces 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea prequel series

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The series will be an origin story for Captain Nemo

James Mason in 200,000 Leagues Under the Sea
(Image credit: Buena Vista Distribution)

Disney Plus has announced a live-action 200,000 Leagues Under the Sea prequel series, titled Nautilus. The news broke at this year's Edinburgh TV Festival (via The Hollywood Reporter). 

The original 19th Century novel by Jules Verne follows Captain Nemo and his submarine, Nautilus. The 10-episode series will deal with Nemo's origin story. An Indian prince robbed of his birthright and a prisoner of the East India Company, he's determined to right the wrongs in his life. The prequel will follow his rise to power and how he came to own his legendary submarine. 

Disney last brought the character to the screen in 1954, when James Mason played him in a big-screen adaptation of the novel. Nemo has also been portrayed by actors like Patrick Stewart and Michael Caine – all, notably, white actors, despite the character's heritage.

French novelist Verne also wrote Around the World in Eighty Days and Journey to the Center of the Earth, both of which have also been made into movies. 

Emily Garbutt
Entertainment Writer

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering everything film and TV-related across the Total Film and SFX sections. I help bring you all the latest news and also the occasional feature too. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism.