“Everything you wanted to know about gender but were afraid to ask.” That’s how Katie Couric is describing her latest documentary project, which was announced by National Geographic Channel over the weekend. Katie Couric Media has teamed up with National Geographic Studios to produce the two-hour doc, which will premiere on the channel and show in 171 countries around the world.
Provisionally titled “Gender Revolution,” the film has been billed as an “unflinching” look at “gender fluidity,” and its relationships with “genetics, brain chemistry, and modern culture.” Although the recent prominence of gender identity as a topic of mainstream media discussion is undoubtedly the impetus for the project, as IndieWire reports, Couric has promised that the documentary “will go beyond the headlines to examine the why, the how and what it all means, with intimate stories of the people who are at the forefront of this new frontier. We’ll also explore how it’s impacting almost every aspect of our lives, from bathrooms to boardrooms, and from colleges to competitive sports.”
Couric is no stranger to working on docs that tackle hot-button issues. She recently produced “Under the Gun,” directed by Stephanie Soechtig, which examined our nation’s epidemic of gun violence. The two also paired up on 2014’s “Fed Up,” a critical exploration of America’s food industry and the health problems it causes.
Courteney Monroe, CEO of NatGeo Global Networks, said that the company is “proud to partner with Katie and her talented production team to play a part in breaking down the complexities of gender identity.”
“Gender Revolution” is set to air on National Geographic in January 2017, to tie in with the Gender issue of National Geographic Magazine.