New Doc Looks for Real-Life Dragons

LONDON, October 10: Dragon Chronicles, an Icon Films production for National Geographic
Channels International (NGCI) and Thirteen/WNET New York for the PBS Nature
series in association with ITV Global
Entertainment, follows reptile expert Rom Whitaker on a quest to find out if
dragons exist.

The documentary looks at an array of reptiles and
amphibians, including a cave-dwelling salamander once believed to be a baby
dragon; the Nile Crocodile, which may have been the beast slain by St George;
and a winged reptile that really can fly. Dragon Chronicles was produced by Andie Clare and executive produced
by Harry and Laura Marshall for Icon Films. For NGCI, the executive VP of content is Sydney
Suissa. ITV Global Entertainment will launch Dragon Chronicles at MIPCOM.

Marshall commented, “Rom Whitaker is not just a world
authority on reptiles he is a great host. Dragon Chronicles was shot on four continents, demonstrating Icon’s
ability to deliver logistically challenging high-end documentaries to the
screen.”

Fred Kaufman, the executive producer of Thirteen/WNET’s Nature
series, added, “Dragons would be a tough
and wildly expensive film to do so we went with their modern-day cousins, the
reptiles that inspired the great fantasy stories of yore.”

Janet Han Vissering, the senior VP of strategic development
and co-finance for National Geographic Channels International, said, “Dragons
have worked their way into folklore for centuries. Dragon Chronicles capitalizes on this fascination, introducing viewers
to beasts far more bizarre and fantastic than any found in mythical tales.”

—By
Kristin Brzoznowski