National Geographic Reveals Upcoming Slate of Unscripted Originals

National Geographic has announced a slew of new unscripted projects – diving into topics from the “real Finding Nemo,” to the reaches of outer space, and journeying back in time to “survive Pompeii.”

What’s Happening:

National Geographic has revealed their upcoming slate of unscripted projects that encapsulate the brand’s ethos across exploration, travel, contemporary and ancient history, and natural history.
Those new projects are:
- The Real Finding Nemo (working title)
- Surviving Pompeii with Tom Hiddleston (working title)
- Meet the Planets (working title)
- Diana: One Day in Paris
Find out more about each of the new series below.

The Real Finding Nemo:

Following the success of the Disney+ Original series, A Real Bug’s Life, comes The Real Finding Nemo, an intimate and entertaining journey through the thrilling underwater world of charming characters where life is filled with epic drama and relatable life situations. Inspired by Pixar’s smash hit film, this series will immerse viewers in the intricate dynamics of life on the reef and beyond as the underwater citizens engage in friendship, deception, romance, and resilience.
From Freeborne Media (Our Great National Parks, Our Oceans) along with the world’s best underwater cinematographers, our ocean characters will transport viewers into the world below with themes that are relevant to sea creatures and human creatures alike. Dive into a clownfish’s epic quest, the unpredictable danger-filled “drop-off,” and experience the everyday jobs that keep Reef City alive like any thriving metropolis in the human world.

Surviving Pompeii with Tom Hiddleston:

Tom Hiddleston brings his passion for ancient history to life in Surviving Pompeii with Tom Hiddleston, produced by Plimsoll Productions. Continuing his partnership with Loki executive producer Kevin R. Wright on this original concept, Hiddleston leads a groundbreaking historical exploration that immerses audiences in the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. and the hauntingly preserved Roman city it left behind.
Surviving Pompeii is a creatively ambitious meld of documentary and drama on a journey into the past that is still echoed in the present. Hiddleston, who studied Classics at Cambridge University and is a dedicated enthusiast of ancient history, embarks on a detective-like quest, breathing life back into the lost voices of Pompeii’s people.
Each episode uncovers real stories hidden for centuries, revealing the extraordinary instants of everyday life that allow us to touch the humanity of those who lived almost 2,000 years ago. Through richly emotional narratives, Hiddleston unveils a remarkably modern city and brings to light the lives of ordinary Romans — not just the elite — showing how their resilience and choices still echo in our world today.
Surviving Pompeii is both a forensic investigation and a deeply empathetic experience, drawing viewers into a meticulous, minute-by-minute retelling of Pompeii’s final moments. This is history as you’ve never seen it: captivating, urgent and profoundly human.

Meet the Planets:

From Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and the Emmy Award-winning BBC Studios Science Unit (The Surgeon’s Cut, Walking with Dinosaurs) comes Meet the Planets, an astronomy series that brings the galaxy’s most famous family to life, with the sun as the matriarch, surrounded by her unruly planetary children. The first series of its kind, Meet the Planets, will collide mind-blowing science with sharp scripted comedy and original animation, allowing the planets to speak for themselves.

Diana: One Day in Paris

Diana: One Day in Paris is a three-part documentary series exploring the tragic death of Princess Diana on the 30th anniversary of that fateful paparazzi car chase through a Parisian motorway tunnel. Produced by the team behind the critically acclaimed 9/11: One Day in America and JFK: One Day in America, the series will use the “One Day In…” franchise’s trademark present-tense approach that bypasses conspiracy theories in favor of factual accuracy. It will uncover new insights using rare archives and interviews with witnesses who have never spoken publicly. This landmark series will look at the 24 hours before and after Diana’s death in forensic detail and follow the story through to her funeral one week later when the world mourned the passing of an icon.

What They’re Saying:

Tom McDonald, executive vice president of Global Unscripted and Factual Content: “These new unscripted series epitomize everything National Geographic stands for — bold, captivating storytelling rooted in world-class research and expertise. Whether it’s the cutting-edge innovation of The Real Finding Nemo, the storytelling panache of Surviving Pompeii, the sweeping ambition of Meet the Planets, or the unparalleled access in Diana: One Day in Paris, National Geographic is building on its reputation as the home of the most distinctive factual series from the very best storytellers in the world.”