Filmmaker Of Distinction To Take On De-Extinction: Oscar Winner James Reed Boards Docuseries On Company Bringing Back Wooly Mammoth, Dodo And More

Colossal Biosciences, the company bringing wooly mammoths and other extinct species back to life, and production partner Teton Ridge Entertainment are teaming with acclaimed filmmaker James Reed on a multiyear docuseries.

Reed – the Oscar-winning director of My Octopus Teacher – and producing partner Matt Houghton will executive produce the de-extinction series through Reed’s Underdog Films banner. Jillian Share for Teton Ridge Entertainment and Michael Dougherty are also on board as executive producers. Filmmaker Sophie Todd (Formula 1 – Drive To Survive) has joined the project as showrunner.

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“The series will have exclusive access to follow Colossal as it works to bring back iconic extinct species – including the woolly mammoth, the thylacine [a carnivorous marsupial once native to Australia] and dodo bird – and strives to rewild them into their natural habitats,” notes a release. “It will have behind the scenes access to Colossal’s whole process – from their groundbreaking work on ancient DNA and genetic engineering to documenting the lives of animals which have not roamed the earth in thousands of years.”

The release adds, “In addition to the de-extinction projects, the series will reveal the company’s cutting edge conservation technologies that focus on protecting existing endangered species including working to cure EEHV in elephants, engineering in genetic diversity to save the Northern white rhinos, and leveraging artificial intelligence to better understand animal behavior and rewilding impacts.”

Colossal Biosciences, based in Austin, TX, describes itself as “the world’s first and only de-extinction company,” adding that it is “closer to restoring the past, preserving the present and safeguarding the future than anyone before.” Colossal raised $225 million in funding as of last year; its valuation exceeds $1B, according to reports.

“Transparency is core to Colossal’s mission and goals so working with the right filmmakers to chronicle our journey was incredibly important. James is at the forefront of nature focused filmmaking and there is no one better to lead the undertaking,” said Ben Lamm, Colossal’s co-founder and CEO. “Given his impressive track record, James was the right filmmaker to cover our complex, dynamic and novel story.”

Reed said in a statement, “After these past few months with Colossal, I am more excited than ever by the extraordinary work they are doing and what will become an incredible turning point in our history. Their work in de-extinction is fascinating and what’s coming up is unbelievable. I feel very privileged that we have the opportunity to bring this story to the world.”

Wooly mammoths roamed the Northern hemisphere for millennia but disappeared at least four thousand years ago – possibly hunted to extinction or killed off by a warming planet. The flightless dodo was around until much more recently; the last of the creatures died off in the late 1600s. Colossal Biosciences says it will use CRISPR gene splicing technology to restore the planet’s shrinking biodiversity.

Executive Producer Michael Dougherty (writer-director of Trick ‘r Treat, Krampus, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) noted, “Our world is about to change forever. Extinct species, some of which haven’t walked the earth in thousands of years, are about to return. The thin line between science and science fiction has been erased, and I couldn’t be happier to work with Colossal, Underdog Films, and Teton Ridge Entertainment to tell the stories of the brilliant minds behind this astounding accomplishment.”

Jillian Share, president of newly formed Teton Ridge Entertainment, commented, “Colossal’s trailblazing mission to de-extinct animals embodies the pioneering spirit that Teton Ridge Entertainment aims to celebrate. Through the lens of James’s emotional, engrossing storytelling, we are excited to give audiences a front row seat to Colossal’s fascinating scientific discoveries.”

Colossal was founded by Lamm and biotech entrepreneur George Church, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School. In a statement, Church said, “It’s terrific to have such a nature-focused, esteemed, and thoughtful team capturing Colossal’s journey to help endangered species via ancient genetic diversity, environmental restoration and conservation.”

Through film, television and new media production, Teton Ridge Entertainment produces stories “that celebrate the spirit of the American West and all that it represents.” It is a division of Teton Ridge, which is comprised of “Americana-focused properties in the sports, media, entertainment, lifestyle and equine spaces.”

Underdog Films, the production company of Oscar winner Reed, makes “character driven feature films and series, across a variety of genres,” specializing in films “that explore the relationship between humanity and the natural world.”

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