National Geographic is taking advantage of last year’s Top Gun buzz.
The network has ordered docuseries Top Gun: The Next Generation (w/t), which will follow a group of officers on the Advanced Flight Training Program as they look to become elite strike fighter pilots.
The pilots will embark on flight tests including landing on an aircraft carrier at sea and it will be told through a range of Navy student pilots, following them in the air, in the classroom, off-base and at home before some of them get to fly the F-35C Lightning II.
The series is produced by British producer Rex, part of Zinc Media. It was created by Karen Edwards, who serves as showrunner, and is exec produced by Tanya Shaw. Lana Salah is series director.
“With so many millions of fans of the film around the world, I was immediately drawn to this series – these elite jet pilots are not only extremely accomplished and impressive, but all have very different stories to tell,” said Tom McDonald, EVP, Global Factual and Unscripted Content, National Geographic. “With Nat Geo’s exclusive unprecedented inside access, this series promises to be an exhilarating, visually jaw-dropping and fascinating journey into the intensely competitive world of elite flying.”
deadline.com
