France TV, Nova/GBH join Pernel’s Origins of Mammals documentary coproduction

Origins of Mammals promises to bring therapsids and their world to life

MIPCOM: French prodco Pernel Media has secured a major coproduction deal with public broadcasters France Télévisions and US-based Nova/GBH (for PBS) for its new documentary, Origins of Mammals.

The project explores the evolutionary journey of mammals, tracing their lineage back 268 million years thanks to groundbreaking paleontological discoveries.

The documentary centres on a 2023 discovery in South Africa’s Karoo Desert, where paleontologists uncovered the largest and oldest therapsid fossil deposits. Therapsids, the earliest known ancestors of mammals, roamed the Earth long before the dinosaurs and evolved into mammals.

Pernel Media has exclusive access to the 2024 excavation in the Karoo Desert, where scientists uncovered new evidence of giant therapsids. Using CGI and VFX, Origins of Mammals will bring these ancient creatures and their world to life.

The documentary will be available in multiple formats – 1×52’, 1×90’ and 2×45’ – and is produced by Céline Payot Lehmann and Samuel Kissous of Pernel Media. It is directed by Thomas Cirotteau, known for his work on Dinobirds and Lady Sapiens.

Alongside France Télévisions and Nova/GBH, other copro partners include Ushuaia TV in France and Radio Canada. Further deals are expected to be finalised at Mipcom, which starts this weekend.

Payot Lehmann commented: “This is our third paleontology film on exclusive discoveries about the evolution of life on Earth. It’s fascinating to see how modern science can unlock million-year-old mysteries and can help us bring to life ancient and lost worlds.”