Animal Planet is heading to dangerous lands.
The cable network and Discovery Networks International have teamed up for a new six-part adventure docuseries featuring wildlife expert Dave Salmoni that explores the world's most remote islands and the creatures that inhabit them, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.
From the producers of Discovery's North America, Killer Islands (working title) follows Salmoni as he sets out to solve some of the biggest mysteries surrounding the world's most dangerous creatures. Salmoni will travel to six different islands over the course of the series, investigating how and why their inhabitants -- such as the vampire bat, hammerhead shark, killer whale and grizzly bear -- have been successful at surviving despite incredibly harsh conditions.
Because Killer Islands is a co-production between Discovery Networks International and Animal Planet, the series will first premiere on the Discovery Channel in 224 countries and territories in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East in spring 2014. Animal Planet will then premiere the series in the U.S. in summer 2014.
“Dave Salmoni’s extraordinary wildlife expertise, captured by world-class filmmakers, has produced that rare hybrid of blue chip programming: natural history and adventure set against a spine-tingling mystery -- making Killer Islands a truly incredible series and must-see programming event," said Julian Bellamy, creative director and head of production and development at Discovery Networks International.
Added Marjorie Kaplan, group president of Animal Planet, Science and Velocity: “In Killer Islands, we have the unique opportunity to take our audiences along with Dave Salmoni to experience and explore the extraordinary and unknown corners of our planet."
Filming on the ambitious series began in November 2012, with Salmoni wrapping principal photography just last week. Post-production is set to begin soon.
The new project marks a series return for Salmoni, who first joined Animal Planet in 2003 and currently serves as the network's "large predator expert." He has hosted eight Animal Planet and Discovery Channel shows, including 2004's Animal Face-Off, 2008's After the Attack, 2009's Into the Pride and 2012's Frontier Earth. In 2011, Salmoni ventured outside the Discovery family, hosting Mark Burnett–produced Expedition Impossible for ABC. His production company, Triosphere, specializes in natural history filmmaking.
Killer Islands is produced by Silverback Films, the company behind North America. Executive producers include Sarah Davies, Dawn Sinsel, Huw Cordey and Keith Scholey.
Bellamy will announce the series at a press conference at the Edinburgh International TV Festival on Friday, Aug. 23.
E-mail: Philiana.Ng@THR.com
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