Sky Set To Co-Produce The Story Behind The World’s Most Famous Whale
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Carl Roberts 
Keiko, the male orca who captured hearts with his role in the 1993 film Free Willy, is now the subject of a new documentary series co-produced by Sky.
Sky will co-produce a new documentary series about Keiko, the captive male orca who became a global icon after starring in the 1993 blockbuster Free Willy.
The project has today announced that Sky is on board to co-produce alongside HBO and All3Media’s RAW. They are the team behind acclaimed documentaries, including The Tinder Swindler. They also produced Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer and Three Identical Strangers. This partnership between Sky and HBO also follows the success of the BAFTA-nominated feature documentary David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The series will follow Keiko’s extraordinary journey across Mexico, the United States, Iceland, and Norway. With exclusive access to never-before-seen archive footage, from his transport out of Iceland after capture as a two-year-old calf to his later rehabilitation and training, audiences will get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at his life.
Paired with personal stories from the people who knew him best, including key individuals who have never spoken publicly about Keiko before, the documentary offers the most engaging and in-depth portrait yet of the world’s most famous whale.
HAYLEY REYNOLDS
Hayley Reynolds, Head of Documentary Commissioning at Sky, says,
“We are thrilled to be partnering with HBO again to co-produce the extraordinary, untold story behind one of the world’s most iconic blockbuster franchises. With Becky Read directing and RAW producing, we’re bringing together world-class talent to explore a story with real emotional and cultural weight — and to deliver it to audiences with the craft and ambition it deserves.”
DIMITRI DOGANIS
Dimitri Doganis, Executive Producer and founder at RAW, says,
“Becky and her team have gained unprecedented access to the characters who strove to release a captive orca for the first and only time, and to a treasure trove of never-seen archival material. This extraordinary story poses critical questions about our relationship to the natural world, a timely and ongoing issue.”
Becky Read will direct the series. She has directed ‘Twas the Fight Before Christmas and Sky History’s Kursk: 10 Days That Shaped Putin. Additionally, she produced Three Identical Strangers and served as the executive producer for The Greatest Night in Pop.
The documentary will premiere at a future date.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
