Sky orders David Attenborough-fronted 3D film Penguin Island

UK pay TV operator BSkyB has ordered its second 3D feature doc, a film about penguins written and presented by Sir David Attenborough, which will play on the Sky 3D channel and in Imax and 3D cinemas.

The show has a working title of Penguin Island and will be produced by Atlantic Productions, the UK indie that made Flying Monsters 3D (see Screenwatch), Sky’s first-ever 3D commission, which will air this Christmas day. It also made First Life, one of Sir David’s first projects outside of the BBC, where he has spent most of his career.

The film will follow the life of penguins and other animals that share their habitat in South Georgia on the Antarctic Peninsula. It will show the animals on land and have sections filmed underwater.

Sky’s 3D channel launched in October and has sports, movies and arts and factual programming. Penguin Island was commissioned by Celia Taylor, head of factual and features at Sky.

Atlantic CEO Anthony Geffen told TBIvision that the show is already in production and will deliver in late 2011. He added that the underwater filming segments provide an added production challenge and that Atlantic is working with camera manufacturers on developing new technology for future shoots.