BBCS’s Natural History Unit ties with ‘My Octopus Teacher’ director James Reed

My Octopus Teacher

BBC Studios (BBCS) Natural History Unit (NHU) has struck a development partnership with James Reed, director of My Octopus Teacher and the founder of UK-based Underdog Films.

The collaboration with Reed will extend BBCS’ pipeline of natural history feature documentaries and will see the director’s creative partner at Underdog Films, Matt Houghton, working alongside him as part of the deal.

James Reed

Aside from Netflix hit My Octopus Teacher, Reed also has credits on features such as Jago – A Life Under Water and Rise Of The Warrior Apes.

Jonny Keeling, head of BBCS Natural History Unit, said: “Character and emotional storytelling are at the heart of filmmaking both at the NHU and Underdog Films, so we look forward to developing a number of original, ambitious and compelling natural history features for audiences across the globe.”

Reed, MD at Underdog, added: “[The NHU] have been at the forefront of natural history film-making for decades and their further growth in the feature doc market will be a fantastic development for the industry as a whole.”

Houghton said: “The team has exciting, ambitious plans and we’re looking forward to contributing to stories that will be entertaining, enlightening and thought-provoking.”