Netflix makes debut commission from ‘Blue Planet II’ creator James Honeyborne

The first project for Netflix from Blue Planet II creator James Honeyborne has emerged.

The streaming giant has signed on for a multi-part series on the oceans from Honeyborne’s Bristol-based prodco Freeborne Media.

The project is the first to emerge from the exec’s headline-grabbing multi-year overall deal for science series, struck earlier this year with Netflix.

Each episode of Oceans (w/t) is to focus on a different ocean – ranging from the Indian Ocean to the Arctic Ocean – that combines oceanography, geography and earth sciences to experience the element in a new way.

Production on the programme will begin later this year.

Oceans highlights Netflix’s continued commitment to natural history on the back of its highly anticipated debut commission Our Planet, which was narrated by David Attenborough and launched globally in April following a glitzy premiere at London’s Natural History Museum that was attended by the likes of Prince Charles, Prince William and footballer David Beckham.

It comes as Honeyborne – whose other credits include the BAFTA-winning Big Blue Live and the Emmy-nominated Wild New Zealand – works to build out his Bristol office for Netflix.

As revealed by TBI last month, the exec recently hired Blue Planet II production exec Katie Hall to join him at Freeborne.

Most recently, Netflix hired BBC Studios marketing boss Jackie Lee-Joe as its head of marketing following a four-month search.