Foxtel, Sky NZ dive on Alexey Molchanov documentary down under

Freediver Alexey Molchanov (photo: Daria Pikalova via CC)

Foxtel in Australia and Sky New Zealand have acquired a forthcoming documentary feature about freediving champion Alexey Molchanov during his historic and dramatic 2023 competitive run.

Freediver will be available on Amazon-owned Prime Video in the US on December 7, when it will also be made available to stream in Canada on Paramount+. It will then launch in Australia on Foxtel and its streamer Binge and Sky Movies in New Zealand in early 2025, with Paramount+ also taking rights in Australia.

Directed, written and produced by Michael John Warren (Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza), the film is a production from Skydance Sports, Picturestart, GQ Studios and Boardwalk Pictures. It is being shopped by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Based on the GQ article Secrets of the Deep, the film follows Molchanov, who is the son of freediving pioneer Natalia Molchanova, during his quest to set five world records in under four months.

This came after geopolitics forced the Russian, who is described as the world’s greatest living freediver, into exile.

Freediving is a mode of underwater diving that relies on breath-holding until resurfacing rather than the use of breathing apparatus such as scuba gear.

Warren serves as a producer alongside Erik Feig and Samie Kim Falvey for Picturestart; David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold and Jon Weinbach for Skydance Sports; Andrew Fried, Dane Lillegard and Jordan Wynn for Boardwalk Pictures; Helen Estabrook, Sarah Amos and Lexy Altman for GQ Studios; and Katherine Dunn, Nan Sandle and Talin Middleton.

Dan Marks, Jessica Switch, Royce Reeves-Darby, Lana Barkin and Jonathan Hausfater also exec produce the project.