Before there was Star Trek, there was Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. The sci-fi series created by Irwin Allen launched in 1964 and was based on the 1961 film of the same name. And, like Star Trek, a sci-fi story of the week and a teamwork-based crew structure propelled much of the storytelling. Over its four-season run, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea featured writing from various now-legendary science fiction talents, including Theodore Sturgeon, Harlan Ellison, and Paul W. Fairman. In a sense, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea was the 1960s sci-fi show that time forgot, with high-concept sci-fi stories, ranging from time travel to aliens and more, all of which are right in line with what sci-fi fans will find in vintage Doctor Who episodes or Star Trek. And now, it appears that a science fiction heavyweight, Daisy Ridley, is the new captain of the Seaview, with a twist.
On some level, it seems like the new Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea series will be a reboot in the truest sense: This new series will be about rediscovering a retro-futuristic submarine, with Ridley at the helm as a female version of Lee Crane. Produced by Akiva Goldsman and directed by Matt Shakman, this show feels like it’s going to be a bit like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but underwater, and maybe in a good way. Here’s why.
