BBC, Animal Planet return to Africa

The BBC in the UK and Discovery-owned US cablenet Animal Planet have commissioned a follow-up to the award-winning natural history documentary Africa’s Giant Killers.

Africa’s Giant Killers features footage from
the Savute Game Reserve in Botswana

UK indie Icon Films will once again partner with the Natural History Film Unit Botswana to produce The Return of the Giant Killers: Africa’s Lion Kings.

The one-hour, one-off doc reunites director and cinematographer Brad Bestelink with film photographer Richard Uren to capture more wildlife footage in the Savute Game Reserve in Botswana.

The film will again form part of the BBC’s Natural World strand and focuses on a particularly harsh year when the grass runs out, leaving hungry lions no choice but to try and kill giant African elephants for food.

Natural World strand editor Roger Webb commissioned the documentary and is executive producer for the BBC. Executive producers for Icon Films are Harry Marshall and Laura Marshall.

BBC Worldwide will distribute the film globally, excluding the US where it will air on Animal Planet.