Matt Tauber, Adam Fratto & Dr David Eagelman launch science-themed US production firm

L-R: Adam Fratto, Matt Tauber & Dr David Eagleman

Preacher producer Matt Tauber, former History exec Adam Fratto and neuroscientist & author Dr David Eagleman have partnered to launch a new US science-themed production company, Cognito Entertainment.

Backed by private equity, the Los Angeles and Palo Alto-based firm will focus on stories from the world of science, spanning scripted and unscripted TV, features, documentaries and podcasts.

Cognito is shopping Galileo, a six-part limited international co-production about the “father of science,” Renaissance scientist Galileo Galilei.

Galileo’s observations of the cosmos challenged core beliefs of the church, resulting in the Pope – who was Galileo’s best friend and greatest advocate – putting him on trial for heresy. Karen Tenkhoff (Motorcyle Diaries) has written the series, and Jon Levin (Marshall) will executive produce.

Meanwhile, the company is working on The Invisible Enemy, a docuseries created by Eagleman, which explores how our civilisation was not shaped by politicians or wars but by a long history of germs, viruses and microbes. Jonathan Grupper will showrun, and journalist, author and physician Seema Yasmin will host.

Cognito has also optioned Grace Chan’s Australian novel Every Version Of You, which it will adapt as an international feature film. Set in the near future, the sci-fi story centers on a star-crossed romance between lovers separated by the boundary between our world and the metaverse.

Eagleman said “We are living in an unparalleled moment of scientific advancement. From brains to space to genetics, there are endless mind-blowing stories to share. In a world that sometimes seems upside-down, science can be a source of great inspiration, wonder and belief.”