Love Nature Orders Ewan McGregor-Narrated Natural-History Trilogy

Love Nature has commissioned Stormborn, a three-part blue-chip natural-history series narrated by Golden Globe Award winner Ewan McGregor.

Stormborn captures some of the world’s most hardy animals in Norway, Scotland and Iceland over the course of one dramatic breeding year. The series is produced by Scotland-based Maramedia, in association with Smithsonian Channel, ARTE France, BBC Scotland and Screen Scotland.

Blue Ant International oversees licensing for the series, which will be available at MIPCOM 2020.

The trilogy includes several instances of animal behavior in the Subarctic that have never been seen by scientists or captured on film. It features Arctic Foxes in Iceland developing and mastering a new hunting technique to catch kittiwakes, drone footage of an Orca catching a porpoise, the first-ever 4K footage of a seal killing a pup, and detailed footage of a reindeer fjord crossing. Love Nature has released Stormborn‘s official trailer ahead of its theatrical screening event at Jackson Wild Summit this fall. Love Nature will host the series’ world broadcast premiere on its international linear and streaming video platforms in November, followed by premieres on Smithsonian Channel (U.S.), BBC Scotland and ARTE (France and Germany).

McGregor said: “I was so happy to work with Nigel and Jackie from [Maramedia] again to narrate another breathtakingly beautiful series about the tough animals of the North. It’s special for me to do work that focuses on Scotland’s majesty, and with Norway and Iceland included too, it makes for such cinematic drama.”

Carlyn Staudt, executive VP of Love Nature programming and development, said: “Stormborn shows how Love Nature is playing in a different sphere now with story-led dramas that provide intimate portraits of animal characters in some of the most beautiful and remote locations on the planet. Love Nature strives to bring fans content that will connect them to the natural world at a heartfelt level. By pulling back the curtain, and bringing to light the many challenges Stormborn’s cast is up against, viewers will learn first hand how special and resilient these animals are.”

Jackie Savery and Nigel Pope, creators of Stormborn and directors of Maramedia, said: “Faced with every possible obstacle, Stormborn’s cast is now tasked with surviving the effects of climate change, which has made the weather in these shooting locations more unpredictable than ever before. We hope the series, with its real and emotional storylines, will encourage people everywhere to engage with the natural world and understand the challenges these animals face.”