Nat Geo performs Dino Autopsy, revives Explorer

National Geographic Channel has commissioned a two-hour special that will see scientists, anatomists and vets build an anatomically correct Tyrannosaurus Rex, and is also bringing back a long-running doc strand.

The show will use “cutting-edge special effects” and input from specialists to create a picture of the giant dinosaur. It will debut this summer.

Impossible Factual is producing the show for National Geographic Channels International, with Paul Wooding executive producing along with Ed Sayer and Hamish Mykura. Allan Butler executives produces from the US, with NGC’s president of original programming and production Tim Pastore.

Meanwhile, NGC is also bringing back its documentary strand Explorer after a five-year hiatus.

“Explorer is the quintessential blue-chip National Geographic Channel series, and we’re excited to be bringing it back,” said Pastore.

The original series ran for more than 2,000 films between 1985 and 2010. The new show will run on 171 NGCI channels worldwide.

National Geographic Studios will produce, with Brooke Runnette and Brian Lovett and Margaret Ebrahim is co-executive producer. Robert Palumbo EPs for NGC.