by Thinus Ferreira
National Geographic (DStv 181) has commissioned a series exploring the legacy of Pompeii with Tom Hiddleston, finding the real Nemo clown fish, exploring the planets and has cancelled Life Below Zero, The Incredible Dr Pol and Dr Oakley Yukon Vet.
"These new unscripted series epitomise everything National Geographic stands for - bold, captivating storytelling rooted in world-class research and expertise," says Tom McDonald, executive vice president of global unscripted and factual content, at National Geographic.
"Whether it's the cutting-edge innovation of The Real Finding Nemo, the storytelling panache of Surviving Pompeii, the sweeping ambition of Meet the Planets, or the unparalleled access in Diana: One Day in Paris, National Geographic is building on its reputation as the home of the most distinctive factual series from the very best storytellers in the world."
National Geographic describes The Real Finding Nemo as "an intimate and entertaining journey through the thrilling underwater world of charming characters where life is filled with epic drama and relatable life situations".
"Inspired by Pixar's smash hit film, this series will immerse viewers in the intricate dynamics of life on the reef and beyond as the underwater citizens engage in friendship, deception, romance, and resilience."
"From Freeborne Media along with the world's best underwater cinematographers, our ocean characters will transport viewers into the world below with themes that are relevant to sea creatures and human creatures alike. Dive into a clownfish's epic quest, the unpredictable danger-filled 'drop-off', and experience the everyday jobs that keep Reef City alive like any thriving metropolis in the human world."
The Real Finding Nemo is produced by Freeborne Media with James Honeyborne as executive producer.
Tom Hiddleston brings his passion for ancient history to life in Surviving Pompeii, produced by Plimsoll Productions.
Tom Hiddleston leads a groundbreaking historical exploration "that immerses audiences in the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD and the hauntingly preserved Roman city it left behind".
National Geographic describes the series as "a creatively ambitious meld of documentary and drama on a journey into the past that is still echoed in the present".
"Tom Hiddleston, who studied Classics at Cambridge University and is a dedicated enthusiast of ancient history, embarks on a detective-like quest, breathing life back into the lost voices of Pompeii's people."
Each episode uncovers real stories hidden for centuries, revealing the everyday life of 2000 years ago.
"Through richly emotional narratives, Tom Hiddleston unveils a remarkably modern city and brings to light the lives of ordinary Romans - not just the elite - showing how their resilience and choices still echo in our world today."
For Plimsoll Productions, Grant Mansfield, Alan Eyres, Helen Flint and Tom Barbor-Might are executive producers.
Meet the Planets is produced by Maximum Effort and BBC Studios Science Unit, with Andrew Cohen as executive producer at BBC Studios Science Unit.
It is an astronomy series that "brings the galaxy's most famous family to life, with the sun as the matriarch, surrounded by her unruly planetary children".
Diana: One Day in Paris from 72 Films is a three-part documentary series exploring the tragic death of Princess Diana on the 30th anniversary of that fateful paparazzi car chase through a Parisian motorway tunnel.
Produced by the team behind 9/11: One Day in America and JFK: One Day in America, the series will use the One Day In... franchise's trademark present-tense approach that bypasses conspiracy theories in favour of factual accuracy.
National Geographic says it will "uncover new insights using rare archives and interviews with witnesses who have never spoken publicly. This landmark series will look at the 24 hours before and after Diana's death in forensic detail and follow the story through to her funeral one week later when the world mourned the passing of an icon".
