If you watched Jurassic Park and thought it was far-fetched in the real world, you’d be wrong.
A new docuseries is following Colossal Biosciences, the world’s first de-extinction company.
The series will follow the company as it works to bring back iconic extinct species, including the woolly mammoth, the dodo bird and the thylacine. Colossal strives to rewild them into their natural habitats centuries – and millenia – after they became extinct.
The documentary will follow groundbreaking work on ancient DNA and genetic engineering to document the lives of animals that have not roamed the Earth in thousands of years.
Alongside the de-extinction projects, the documentary will look into cutting-edge conservation technologies that focus on protecting existing endangered species. Some of these are working to save Northern white rhinos, cure EEHV in elephants and using AI to understand animal behavior better.
Production partner Teton Ridge Entertainment have signed with James Reed, known for his work on Netflix’s Oscar-winning doc My Octopus Teacher, as well as Reed’s company Underdog Films, to product the docuseries – which will take place over a number of years.
Specialist observational filmmaker Sophie Todd, from Formula 1 – Drive to Survive, has joined as showrunner. Reed and producing partner Matt Houghton will executive produce the project for Underdog, along with Jillian Share for Teton Ridge Entertainment. Michael Dougherty will also executive produce.
“Transparency is core to Colossal’s mission and goals so working with the right filmmakers to chronicle our journey was incredibly important. James is at the forefront of nature focused filmmaking and there is no one better to lead the undertaking,” said Ben Lamm, Colossal co-founder and CEO.
“Given his impressive track record, James was the right filmmaker to cover our complex, dynamic and novel story.”
Reed achieved worldwide acclaim with the Netflix 2020 doc My Octopus Teacher, about a South African filmmaker who forges an unexpected friendship with an octopus, which went on to win the Best Documentary Feature award at the Oscars. He directed and produced Chimp Empire and was a director and creative consultant at the BBC Studios Natural History Unit where he made Frozen Planet 2: Our Frozen Planet.
Reed said: “After these past few months with Colossal, I am more excited than ever by the extraordinary work they are doing and what will become an incredible turning point in our history.
“Their work in de-extinction is fascinating and what’s coming up is unbelievable. I feel very privileged that we have the opportunity to bring this story to the world.”
Dougherty, screenwriter/director of Trick ‘r Treat, Krampus, Godzilla: King of the Monsters added: “Our world is about to change forever. Extinct species, some of which haven’t walked the earth in thousands of years, are about to return.
“The thin line between science and science fiction has been erased, and I couldn’t be happier to work with Colossal, Underdog Films, and Teton Ridge Entertainment to tell the stories of the brilliant minds behind this astounding accomplishment.”
Colossal, founded by Ben Lamm, software entrepreneur, and world-renowned geneticist George Church Ph.D., was created to restore extinct species, protect critically endangered species and strive to support life on Earth.
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