Picture Credits: Netflix
It’s been nearly 50 years since Sir David Attenborough first encountered a playful baby mountain gorilla named Pablo in his seminal 1978 series Life on Earth. Now, Netflix is reteaming with the legendary broadcaster for a stunning feature-length follow-up.
A Gorilla Story: Told By David Attenborough is set to premiere globally on April 17, 2026. Serving as a poignant bookend to that iconic wildlife encounter, the film brings viewers back to the mountains of Rwanda to follow the “Pablo Group”—the direct descendants of the gorilla Attenborough met decades ago.
A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough. Cr. John Sparks / Nature Picture Library
Behind the Camera
The documentary boasts a powerhouse creative team. It is directed by Oscar winner James Reed (My Octopus Teacher) and co-directed by Callum Webster. Emmy-winning veteran Alastair Fothergill (Life on Our Planet) serves as producer, with Silverback Films producing in association with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way. Executive producers include Fothergill, DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson, and Phillip Watson.
The documentary series crew worked closely with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Rwandan Development Board. The crew spent an unprecedented 250 shooting days in Volcanoes National Park.
As always with any new Attenborough documentary, it’s advocating for nature preservation, and he’s made some real progress. When Attenborough first visited the legendary Dian Fossey in 1978, heavy poaching had reduced the mountain gorilla population to just 250. Today, thanks to dedicated conservation efforts and a sustainable tourism model that gives 10% of earnings directly back to local communities, there are over 600 gorillas thriving in Rwanda.
Weaving together 4K cinematography with archival footage, the film also features Attenborough reading directly from his personal 1978 journals. Fothergill noted that Attenborough, who turns 100 on May 8, just weeks after the film’s release, remains incredibly sharp, recording his entire 76-minute narration in a single, masterful afternoon session.
In press notes, Netflix notes that among the painstaking efforts of the crew involved, cameraman Ben Cherry utilized a custom, waist-level steady-cam rig to capture fluid shots right in the gorillas’ footsteps. Furthermore, for the first time ever, the Rwandan government permitted the careful use of drones around the animals after the crew spent a year and a half proving their passive behavior.
A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough. Cr. Ben Cherry / Silverback Films / Netflix
Meet the Pablo Group
The film promises to deliver deep character studies that rival human dramas, packed with political power struggles, loyalty, and shocking betrayal. Here is a quick look at the gorilla family you’ll be following:
- Gicurasi (27): The aging dominant silverback whose physical ability—and leadership—is beginning to fade.
- Ubwuzu (19): An up-and-coming silverback in peak physical shape, poised to challenge Gicurasi for the crown.
- Teta (13): The dominant female. In gorilla society, true power lies with the women, and her ultimate choice of who to support dictates the future of the family’s leadership.
- Imfura: A frustrated teenage silverback who commits an incredibly rare, never-before-filmed act of violence—an intragroup infanticide—leading to his dramatic banishment by the rest of the family.
- Ubi & Inyange: A playful two-year-old who acts as the group’s curious clown, and a new six-year-old immigrant female looking to join the family.
A Gorilla Story: Told By David Attenborough drops on Netflix on April 17. Will you be adding this stunning new documentary to your queue? Let us know in the comments!
Picture Credit: Netflix
