The Captain Nemo origin story series “Nautilus” lives on, with AMC Networks licensing the U.S. and Canadian linear and streaming rights to the live-action series from Disney Entertainment.
The 10-episode show was originally slated to air on Disney+, but it was announced back in August that the show was not going forward at the streamer as part of a wide-ranging cost cutting initiative at the Mouse House.
AMC and AMC+ will now air the show as a special television event in 2024, with an exact premiere date to be announced later. Inspired by Jules Vernes’ “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” the show will explore the early life of Captain Nemo, who is played by Shazad Latif. The character is described as “an Indian Prince robbed of his birthright and family, a prisoner of the East India Mercantile Company and a man bent on revenge against the forces that have taken everything from him.”
“’Nautilus’ is a big, sweeping drama that is sure to appeal to fans of our Anne Rice Immortal Universe and other buzzy and fan-forward series like ‘Orphan Black: Echoes,’” said Ben Davis, executive vice president of original programming for AMC Networks and AMC Studios. “We are looking forward to bringing it to AMC+ and AMC as a special television event next year.”
Along with Latif, the cast of the show includes Georgia Flood, Thierry Fremont and Céline Menville, with guest appearances from Richard E. Grant, Anna Torv and Noah Taylor.
The series was developed and produced by Moonriver TV’s Xavier Marchand and Seven Stories’ Anand Tucker. James Dormer serves as writer and executive producer. Johanna Devereaux, Chris Loveall, Colleen Woodcock, and Daisy Gilbert also executive produce. Cameron Welsh serves as producer. Michael Matthews was the lead director.
“I am hugely excited that the efforts of everyone involved in the making of the show will be seen on such a prestigious network,” said Dormer.
“We are so thrilled to present the epic adventures of Captain Nemo and his legendary submarine The Nautilus alongside the other incredible AMC universes,” said Marchand and Tucker. “The series will take viewers on a breathtaking journey with Nemo and his crew, battling terrifying creatures and the dark forces of the British Empire.”
“Nautilus” is distributed by Disney Entertainment and acknowledges the support from the Australian Government’s Location Incentive and from the Queensland Government via Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy.