National Geographic Unveils New Unscripted Slate Focused on Exclusive Access, Rare Archive Footage, and Compelling Storytelling

National Geographic has announced the greenlight of three new unscripted series that will delve into pivotal moments in history and uncover new revelations.

The first series, titled “Inside the FBI: The ’70s,” will explore the organization’s untapped archive from the most notorious cases of that turbulent decade. It will provide in-depth access to the agents involved in each case and examine the successes and failures of their investigations. The series will also shed light on the challenges the FBI faced during a transformative decade in America, including the Watergate scandal, internal corruption, domestic terror, cults, and serial killers. Through untapped FBI archives and eyewitness testimonies, the series aims to expose the societal turmoil of the time and how the FBI had to rebuild itself and its reputation.

The second series, “The Color of Victory: Heroes of WW2,” produced by Idris Elba, will tell the true stories of soldiers of color who played integral roles in four major battles of World War II. The series aims to highlight the contributions and experiences of these often overlooked soldiers.

The third series, “Waking the Dead,” follows the DNA Doe Project, an investigative organization that uses cutting-edge techniques to identify the bodies of individuals who have been forgotten and remain unclaimed across the nation. The series will showcase the use of genetic detective work to bring closure to these cases.

“At Nat Geo, we’re drawn to stories and ideas which combine deep insight with incredible emotion,” said Tom McDonald, executive vice president, Global Factual and Unscripted Content, National Geographic. “These new greenlights epitomize that – whether it be WWII, cutting-edge genetic detective work or the history of the FBI – these are documentary series underpinned by privileged access, packed full of revelation and told in a gripping, edge-of-your-seat way. It’s thrilling that incredible talent like Idris Elba are joining us as we tell stories that have global significance and resonance.”