‘Virunga’ looks at the conflict between park rangers and gorilla poachers around Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Netflix has scored again with another high profile star, with the streaming service announcing it's teaming up with Leonardo DiCaprio to release a new documentary. Entitled Virunga, it will be produced by DiCaprio’s Appian Way productions and is scheduled for release on November 7th.
DiCaprio will team with Netflix to release Virunga
Directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, who is best known for the series 'The Cure: Doctors on Everest', Virunga centres on the struggle of park rangers in the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect their endangered gorillas from poachers and industry encroaching on their habitats.
The film will be released simultaneously on Netflix and in New York and Los Angeles’ theatres on November 7th.
Five time Oscar nominee DiCaprio is well known for his support for environmentalist issues and previously produced and narrated the 2007 documentary The 11th Hour, about global warming.
More: Leonardo DiCaprio Addresses Word Leaders In First U.N. Speech On Climate Change
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter DiCaprio said, "Films like Virunga are powerful stories that are a window into the incredible cultural and natural diversity of our world, the forces that are threatening to destroy it, and the people who are fighting to protect it.”
"Partnering with Netflix on this film is an exciting opportunity to inform and inspire individuals to engage on this topic,” the Wolf of Wall Street star added.
More: Netflix Signs Exclusive Deal With Adam Sandler To Produce Four Original Movies
In a statement, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said, “Leo intuitively understands that there is nothing like the power of film to reach people’s hearts and minds. With Virunga, we’ll work with Leo to introduce viewers around the world to an incredible, gripping story that will have audiences guessing right up until the final act.”
Is Netflix now taking over the movie industry?
This marks the third major coup the streaming service has gained in recent weeks. Last month, they announced a partnership with The Weinstein Co. to release the sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2015. They also recently signed an exclusive deal with actor Adam Sandler to produce and release four original features.
Ben Affleck launched his directing career 10 years ago with his film of Dennis Lehane's...
A wrenching saga of survival and revenge, Alejandro G. Inarritu's new epic is just as...
Hugh Glass is a skilled hunter, experienced in trapping some of the most predatory of...
Coarse and not exactly subtle, this dark drama might disappoint viewers expecting a more traditional...
At age 71, Martin Scorsese proves with this riotous romp that he's one of the...
It's a wild ride of drinking, drugs, debauchery and deception when the ambitious Jordan Belfort...
Jordan Belfort started out his stockbroker business in a tiny office with a small group...
Clearly something went horribly wrong as this thriller was being made, because despite a solid...
Jordan Belfort is a successful stockbroker, multi-millionaire and motivational speaker from New York who had...
Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge) is the perfect director to take on F. Scott Fitzgerald's iconic...