The National Geographic Channel has greenlit two new documentaries that will chronicle the research of beloved British primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall and the proceedings of Los Angeles’ infamous 1992 race riots, the network announced Thursday.
Brett Morgen, known for the Emmy-nominated doc “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck” and Oscar-nominated film “On the Ropes,” is set to direct, produce and write the untitled Jane Goodall biopic, which will feature never-before-seen video archives from Goodall’s findings at Tanzania’s Gombe National Park in the 1960s. Now, over fifty years later, the recently re-discovered video footage of her early chimpanzee research will be unveiled.
“While Jane’s story has been told before, our hope is that this film will invite viewers to experience the joy, exhilaration, and thrill that Jane herself experienced in Gombe,” said Morgen. “This promises to be a truly immersive cinematic experience.”
The project will be produced for the National Geographic Channel by National Geographic Studios, in association with Public Road Productions. Jeff Hasler and Jared Lipworth are attached to exec produce. Following a theatrical release, the untitled doc will premiere on the National Geographic Channel in 171 countries and 45 languages.
NatGeo will also partner with Lightbox to produce “LA 92,” a doc that will source unseen footage, news archives and testimonies to tell an in-depth story of America’s first on-camera race riots, also known as the Rodney King riots.
“Recent events and the upcoming 25th anniversary of the riots only amplify the importance of telling the story of the Los Angeles riots in an authentic way and with the remarkable perspective that National Geographic is known for,” said NGC president, original programming and production, Tim Pastore.
“LA 92” will also premiere globally on the National Geographic Channel.
