National Geographic has another Jane Goodall documentary on the way. The project comes on the heels of 2017’s “Jane,” National Geographic Documentary Films’ Emmy-winning and BAFTA-nominated tribute to the iconic anthropologist. The network is “taking a fresh, new look” at Goodall’s “incredible conservation work in the upcoming television special ‘Jane Goodall: The Hope,'” a press release announced.
A “celebration of Goodall’s work and [an exploration of] the ways in which her passion for wildlife has changed the world for the better,” the two-hour doc will offer a new perspective that “illustrates the obstacles that Goodall has faced throughout her career and shows how, with a dedicated team and unshakable drive, she has overcome those obstacles to become one of the most important names in wildlife conservation.”
“Jane Goodall: The Hope” is currently in production. The special, which kicks off where “Jane” left off, will air in 172 countries and 43 languages.
“Jane” saw London-born Goodall traveling all the way to Gombe, Tanzania to live among chimps in a National Park. By her own admission, Goodall had “no idea of their brutality.” But it wasn’t just the chimps the trailblazer was up against. “There were some who had tried to discredit my observations because I was a young, untrained girl,” the primatologist acknowledges in the feature.
“Jane Goodall: The Hope” “showcases Goodall’s impact through her commitment to protect chimpanzees living in the wild — through the Jane Goodall Institute’s community-centered conservation program, TACARE (now active in six African countries) — and to improve the well-being of chimpanzees in captivity and at sanctuaries such as the Institute’s Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center in the Republic of the Congo.” The special features a combination of archival footage, present-day stories, and on-camera interviews.
“This powerful special aims to shed a new light on how Jane’s commitment to her cause has transformed the way in which we think about wildlife conservation,” said Janet Han Vissering, senior vice president of production and development for National Geographic Global Networks. “Now, more than ever, it’s important to highlight stories of hope that inspire viewers to work together to protect our planet. Jane revolutionized our understanding of the natural world, and we are honored to be able to continue celebrating her legacy as one of the most influential women of our time.”
