Nat Geo Goes for Specials on Pope Francis & Challenger Disaster

WASHINGTON, D.C.: National Geographic Channel has greenlit two specials for 2016, one on Pope Francis’s pre-Vatican life and another on the 30th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.

Rebel Pope, a FOX Telecolombia production, will interweave scripted accounts of Pope Francis’s early days and career with documentary interviews from those close to him. Meanwhile, Challenger Disaster: Lost Tapes will follow the story of the space shuttle and its crew, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe, up until the shuttle exploded after launch. 1895 Films is producing that title.

Both hour-long films are due out globally on National Geographic Channel in 171 countries and 45 languages in early 2016.

Hamish Mykura, the executive VP and head of international content for National Geographic Channels International, said: “Pope Francis is a fascinating figure with an incredible backstory that hasn’t been told in full until now. Rebel Pope is the definitive story of his rise to power. Between the scripted elements and the interviews, we really get under the skin of this man of the people to find out how his inspiring beliefs evolved and what the influences were that shaped him on his path to the papacy.”

He added: “As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Challenger disaster, the opportunity to go behind the scenes in a way never seen before and put the event into the context of its time is a rare privilege. With leaps and bounds being made in space exploration, it is vital that we fully understand the trajectory that led us to this point and acknowledge those who sacrificed their lives in our quest to better understand the solar system.”