‘My Octopus Teacher’ Filmmaker to Focus on Restoration of Extinct Species Such as the Dodo Bird in Upcoming Doc

Colossal Biosciences, a company devoted to genetically resurrecting the woolly mammoth, is the subject of Oscar-winning director James Reed’s next documentary series for Teton Ridge Entertainment, a company backed by former Legendary CEO Thomas Tull.

Reed, who won an Academy Award in 2020 for co-directing “My Octopus Teacher,” is currently in production on the multi-year docuseries, which will follow the Dallas-based company as it uses gene-editing technology to bring back extinct species including the woolly mammoth, the thylacine (commonly referred to as the Tasmanian tiger) and the dodo bird. Reed will chronicle how Colossal, which deems itself the world’s first de-extinction company, strives to rewild the extinct animals and bring them back to their natural habitats.

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Teton Ridge is financing the first phase of the docu’s production with the intention to find a distribution partner to bring the film to market.

“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,” says Reed. “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.”

Reed will have behind the scenes access to Colossal’s work on ancient DNA and genetic engineering. He will also document the lives of animals which have not roamed the earth in thousands of years.

Colossal Biosciences launched in 2021 when it received $15 million in initial funding. Earlier this month the company hired Emily Castel, as its first chief marketing officer. Castel served as the president and chief brand officer of Teton Ridge Entertainment, the production company funding the Colossal docu, from 2020 until January 2024 and previously was Legendary’s chief marketing officer.

After winning the Oscar in 2020 for the Netflix doc “My Octopus Teacher,” about a South African filmmaker who forges an unexpected friendship with an octopus, Reed directed and produced the Netflix docuseries “Chimp Empire” and was a director and creative consultant at the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, directing an episode of “Frozen Planet 2: Our Frozen Planet.”

“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,” says Ben Lamm, Colossal co-founder and CEO. “Given his impressive track record, James was the right filmmaker to cover our complex, dynamic and novel story.”

Adds executive producer Michael Dougherty: “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.”

Dougherty will executive produce alongside Reed and producing partner Matt Houghton and Teton Ridge’s Jillian Share. Filmmaker Sophie Todd (“Formula 1 – Drive to Survive”) will serve as the series showrunner.

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