Netflix expands natural history slate with Morgan Freeman & David Attenborough projects

Our Universe

Netflix has expanded its natural history slate with the commission of six new docuseries, including two shows narrated by Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman and a follow-up to Our Planet.

The 6 x 45-minute Our Universe will debut on the streamer on 22 November. Narrated by Freeman and hailing from BBC Studios, the show blends wildlife footage with “cosmic special effects” to take viewers on an adventure to explore the connections that drive our natural world.

From the birth of the sun to the birth of a sea turtle, Our Universe uses animation to dramatize the celestial forces that generated our solar system, while modern camera and CGI technology bring the audience up close and personal with some of the most iconic, charismatic animals on Earth.

Freeman will also narrate the 8 x 60-minute Life On Our Planet, coming next year from Silverback Films and Amblin Television, in partnership with Industrial Light & Magic.

The docuseries tells the story of life’s epic battle to conquer and survive on planet Earth and how 99% of earth’s inhabitants are now lost to our deep past. The series will explore what happened to these dynasties – their rise and their fall.

Also due to debut in 2023 is Our Planet II, narrated by natural history veteran David Attenborough, which will unravel the mysteries of how and why animals migrate to reveal some of the most dramatic and compelling stories in the natural world.

This 4 x 50-minute series is also produced by Silverback Films.

Among the new commissions are a trio of shows hailing from Freeborne Media and Wild Space Productions, with James Honeyborne attached to exec produce all three.

Our Oceans and Our Living World will debut in 2024, with Our Water World expected to launch in 2025.

Adam Del Deo, Netflix’s VP of documentary series, said: “Nature documentaries can help us explore, discover, and appreciate the wonder and complexities of the world around us. The stories are limitless – spanning the arc of history from the Earth’s earliest origins, to the environments we live in now, to the planet we are creating for the future. With stunning filmmaking and innovative technologies, these cinematic documentaries bring even the most exotic or microscopic creatures of the natural world to our fingertips.”