Sigourney Weaver on board Gorillas in the Mist doc

Sigourney Weaver will narrate a new Nat Geo series about Dian Fossey, the naturalist whose life story was told in the Hollywood movie Gorillas in the Mist.

Dian Fossey: Secrets in the Mist will be produced by Endemol Shine prodco Tigress. Man on Wire exec producer James Marsh is also on board.

Weaver, who played Fossey in the 1988 movie, is confirmed as the narrator in the three-part special.

“I am delighted to be working with Nat Geo on a documentary about Dian Fossey’s trailblazing life and work with the Mountain Gorillas,” she said. “This project promises to enrich our appreciation of Dian and these majestic primates and to raise awareness about the crucial conservation work of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.”

The project was greenlit by National Geographic president, original programming & production Tim Pastore.

“Dian Fossey was a seminal figure of the 20^th century, whose contribution to science had a profound impact on our understanding of primates,” said Pastore. “By revealing how her groundbreaking findings came about and why they had such an impact on the world, we are paying tribute to her life’s work. This series will be her definitive life story and a testament to her trail-blazing legacy.”

Former BBC Two and Four chief Kim Shillinglaw was appointed director of factual at Endemol Shine UK last year. She said: “This ambitious, filmic series is an example of the kind of project we’re passionate about developing and making as part of Endemol Shine’s factual output.”