OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH to Debut June 7 on National Geographic and Stream Globally Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu on World Oceans Day

Today, National Geographic released the trailer and key art for OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, a feature-length documentary special that marks the first collaboration of its kind between Sir David Attenborough, the world’s preeminent natural historian, and National Geographic, a leader in exploration, science and storytelling. Presented by the celebrated 98-year-old broadcaster and produced by Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios, the film shares with a global audience the importance of the world’s oceans and the story of how we can, and must, restore the glory of Earth’s vast, interconnected waters. The film will premiere on National Geographic on Saturday, June 7, at 9/8c and be available to stream globally the next day, World Oceans Day, on Disney+ and Hulu.

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OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH will have its world premiere tomorrow, May 6, at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London and will be released theatrically in select territories outside the U.S. on May 8, 2025, coinciding with Attenborough’s 99^th birthday. International cinemas and showtimes can be found at OceanFilm.net.

The film’s release on National Geographic, Disney+ and Hulu is timed to World Oceans Day, June’s United Nations Ocean Conference 2025 in Nice, France, and midway through the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). As decision makers ponder the future of our oceans, OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH will amplify the marine protection solutions that can help turn the tide. The film draws upon extensive marine science and was supported by a team of scientific advisors, including National Geographic Pristine Seas founder, Dr. Enric Sala.

After filming the natural world for over 70 years, captivating generations of audiences worldwide with groundbreaking discoveries and advocating for environmental preservation, Attenborough delivers his most powerful message yet. In the feature-length special OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, he draws on his lifetime of exploration and knowledge of the sea to take audiences on a cinematic journey of wonder through the planet’s most spectacular undersea habitats. Attenborough investigates astonishingly diverse marine ecosystems, from bustling giant kelp jungles and mesmerizing coral reefs to towering seamount outposts within the open ocean, all of which are revealed to be intricately connected, vital to avoiding climate catastrophe, and in peril due to destructive forms of fishing. While Attenborough exposes the greatest threats to our oceans’ health as never seen before, he points to inspirational stories from around the world to reveal the most remarkable finding of all: If we take action now, the opportunity for marine life to recover on an unprecedented scale is well within our reach.

Attenborough said, “My lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Over the last hundred years, scientists and explorers have revealed remarkable new species, epic migrations and dazzling, complex ecosystems beyond anything I could have imagined as a young man. In this film, we share those wonderful discoveries, uncover why our ocean is in such poor health, and, perhaps most importantly, show how it can bounce back to life.”

Tom McDonald, National Geographic’s executive vice president of Global Factual and Unscripted Content, said, “I’m thrilled that audiences worldwide will be able to engage with Sir David’s signature storytelling and the inspirational message of this film through the power of National Geographic’s global platforms. There is no one better to deliver this landmark film than Sir David and I’m delighted that he’s working with National Geographic for the very first time on a subject that is timely and close to his heart.”

Through compelling firsthand accounts and stunning, immersive cinematography, OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH tells the untold story of the importance and health of our ocean. Through spectacular undersea sequences and a reflection on Attenborough’s own lifetime of exploration and discovery, the film demonstrates the vital role the ocean plays in defending against climate disaster and sustaining all life on Earth. The documentary special zeroes in on the human actions leading to the oceans’ collapse and the effects of destructive fishing techniques, such as dredging and bottom trawling, on entire marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and the global climate. Breathtaking footage also exhibits the oceans’ incredible resilience and remarkable ability to recover when protected, showcasing the marine protection solutions already at hand and the action we must take to restore the abundance and vitality of the ocean and secure a healthier future for us all.

Educators can be part of the solution that inspires young people — the ocean stewards of tomorrow — by discussing OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH in the classroom. Later this year, National Geographic Pristine Seas will make the documentary film available to educators at schools, universities, museums, and libraries, and for educational and charitable conferences and events for non-commercial purposes. Learn more at nationalgeographic.org/society/ocean-with-david-attenborough/.

OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH is directed by Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey and Colin Butfield and produced by Nowlan for Silverback Films. The film is a Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios co-production. Executive producers include Louise Pedersen and Rachel Job for All3Media International (the film’s global TV distribution partner), Tom McDonald and Janet Han Vissering for National Geographic, Jasper Smith for Arksen Ltd and 10% for the Ocean, Minderoo Productions Limited, Enric Sala for National Geographic Society and Pristine Seas, Kristin Rechberger for Dynamic Planet and Revive Our Ocean, Rolly van Rappard and Francoise van Rappard for Don Quixote Foundation, and Olivier Wenden for The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

About National Geographic

Representing the largest brand on social media with over 780 million followers and 1.1 billion impressions each month, National Geographic Content’s award-winning and critically acclaimed storytelling inspires fans of all ages to connect with, explore and care about the world through factual storytelling. National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, reaches over 532 million people worldwide in 172 countries and 33 languages as a digital, social and print publisher and across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu.

Its diverse content includes Oscar®- and BAFTA award-winning film Free Solo, Oscar-nominated films Sugarcane, Fire of Love and Bobi Wine: The People’s President, Emmy® Award-winning franchise 9/11: One Day in America and JFK: One Day in America, Emmy® Award-winning series Animals Up Close, series Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, Life Below Zero, and Secrets of the Whales, in addition to multiple National Magazine Awards, Pulitzer Prize Finalists and Webby wins. Visit nationalgeographic.com and natgeotv.com or explore Instagram, Threads, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Reddit.

About Silverback Films

Silverback Films is a world-leading producer of natural history films for both television and cinema. Founded in 2012 by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey, it brings together an exceptional team of wildlife filmmakers and has produced shows and features that are among the most successful ever created - including Our Planet (Netflix), David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (Netflix), seven Disneynature features (Disney+), The Hunt (BBC), The Mating Game (BBC), Wild Isles (BBC) and most recently Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic).

Silverback is committed to creating the highest-quality films which also help to raise awareness of the world’s environmental crisis. Their cutting-edge productions combine powerful storytelling with first-class cinematography to tell stories that not only inspire, but challenge audiences - setting them apart as a leader in the industry. The team has relationships with the world’s leading narrators, including a unique 40-year relationship with David Attenborough, and their work has been recognized at the highest level, winning numerous acclaimed awards.

The company is based in Bristol, the global heart of natural history production, and is part of the All3Media Group, which acquired Silverback Films in December 2020.

About Open Planet Studios

Open Planet Studios (formerly Studio Silverback) is one of the world’s leading producers of impact films. Founded by Colin Butfield and Jonnie Hughes, the studio specialises in groundbreaking content to drive change for our planet – from short films to strategic campaigns, immersive experiences, and global feature documentaries.

The award-winning team at Open Planet Studios have worked on landmark TV and film productions, including Breaking Boundaries (Netflix), David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet (Netflix), The Earthshot Prize: Restoring Our Planet (BBC, Discovery+ and PBS), and Seat At The Table (YouTube Originals).

Open Planet Studios regularly produce content for major UN events, including David Attenborough’s rousing speech on the opening day of COP26 in Glasgow, for which it was invited to join the UN’s SDG Media Compact in 2023.

Through its award-winning, not-for-profit impact library, Open Planet, the studio is empowering storytellers globally with free, trusted, world-class content of our changing planet.

About All3Media International

All3Media International distributes popular, award-winning TV programmes to over 1,000 broadcasters and media platforms around the world and manages FAST and AVOD channels. The company has been celebrated for producing, marketing and distributing high-quality, ground-breaking and pioneering shows to a global audience from All3Media Group producers and leading third-party producers. All3Media International has consistently topped the Broadcast and Televisual annual Indies Surveys and received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its growth – twice. Its catalogue contains over 35,000 hours of content across all genres.

As well as one of Britain’s top-selling drama series MIDSOMER MURDERS, All3Media International’s quality scripted content includes returning favorites such as ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL and TRIGGER POINT, celebrated classics SKINS, FLEABAG and IT’S A SIN and star-studded dramas such as THE ENGLISH, THE TOURIST in addition to upcoming series THE ASSASSIN starring Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore, TRESSPASSES featuring Gillian Anderson and SECRET SERVICE led by Gemma Arterton.

The distributor’s expansive format slate includes global phenomenon THE TRAITORS. Named K7’s format of the year in 2024, over 30 territories have commissioned local versions, over 50 territories have broadcast episodes via tape sales and All3Media International also handles ancillary rights. Other celebrated formats include RACE ACROSS THE WORLD, LINGO and CASH CAB.

Scripted formats from All3Media International’s catalogue include LIAR, the global hit thrillers commissioned in 15 territories, INFORMER, BLOOD and CHEAT as well as more lighthearted series such as QUEER AS FOLK, LAID and STEP DAVE.

High profile documentaries include BECOMING MADONNA, THE TRIAL OF MICHAEL JACKSON, PARENTHOOD, DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: OCEAN, THE BODY NEXT DOOR and THE MAN WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE. Additionally, some of television's most beloved brands including Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh, Gordon Ramsay and Mary Beard feature on the distributors’ slate.

About Revive Our Ocean

Launched on April 24 by co-producers of the film, Revive Our Ocean is a new global initiative inspiring ocean action through an innovative model that makes coastal marine conservation community-driven, scalable and effective. Coordinated by Dynamic Planet with co-founding partner National Geographic Pristine Seas, the initiative underscores that when we protect our ocean, it can recover at an unprecedented scale, revitalizing marine life, improving food security, and strengthening local economies. Built on three pillars — Inspire, Enable and Equip — Revive Our Ocean focuses on two critical goals: accelerating coastal Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as regenerative economic engines and stopping destructive fishing within MPAs, including bottom trawling. Revive Our Ocean is a rallying cry for local governments, coastal communities and businesses to work together to safeguard our threatened nearshore waters where most marine biodiversity resides. Rooted in local knowledge and action, the initiative involves best-in-class ocean conservation leaders in each country, ensuring that marine protection is driven by those who know their waters best. Learn more at ReviveOurOcean.org. (Note: Sir David Attenborough is not involved with the initiative, but Revive Our Ocean, as mentioned, is a proud co-producer of the film.)

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