BBC AMERICA has set the premiere date for Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty, the new installation of the Meerkat Manor series. A BBC AMERICA co-production with Oxford Scientific Films, all-new half-hour episodes will premiere weekly starting Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 8/7c as part of BBC AMERICA’s Wonderstruck programming line-up. BBC AMERICA previously announced that BAFTA-winning actor Bill Nighy is set to return to narrate the series (his first time narrating the series’ U.S. broadcasts).
In addition, AMC+ will debut the first episode on Saturday, May 29 – one week ahead of its linear premiere. All subsequent episodes will launch on the premium streaming bundle, every Saturday, alongside their airing on BBC AMERICA.
Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty continues the compelling saga of the heartstring-tugging, dramatic tale of survival revolving around three families of meerkats who are descendants of the legendary meerkat matriarch, Flower. Neighbors and rivals who share a bloodline are forced to compete for food and resources in an environment that is undergoing a great deal of change: the Kalahari Desert in South Africa.
The series anchors BBC AMERICA’s spring nature programming, which also features April’s Earth Day Takeover, a three-day marathon of the network’s celebrated award-winning content. Throughout the season, Saturdays continue to be the mainstay for Wonderstruck premieres, highlighted by One Wild Day (Saturday, April 17 at 8/7c); Attenborough’s Journey (Saturday, May 8 at 8/7c), a retrospective on the legend himself, China: Nature’s Ancient Kingdom (Saturday, May 15 at 8/7c), a deep dive into the world’s largest conservation project in China.
Full series descriptions are below:
· One Wild Day – Saturday, April 17 at 8/7c – This fresh, modern landmark natural history series is a roller-coaster through a day in the wild. The series follows some of the world’s most extraordinary animals at different moments in the day as they work to survive in some of the toughest landscapes on the planet. The day changes dramatically as the clock ticks up to the silent oppressive heat of midday; a time where reptiles thrive, and gentle giants must retreat before ramping up the action to the hi-octane drama just before dusk. As dark creeps in there’s an uneasy turn, plunging into the horror movie of night in the wild; a world where eerie monsters and nimble little leapers rule supreme. It all ends back in the safety of sunrise with the start of a new day. For some animals, 24 hours is the blink of an eye – for others, it’s an entire lifetime – but for every creature there’s a moment in its day it must take advantage of to survive. One Wild Day is distributed by NBCUniversal Global Distribution on behalf of Sky Studios.
· Earth Day Takeover – Thursday, April 22 starting at 6am/5c – A three-day takeover of the network’s celebrated natural history programming, including the Emmy(R)-winning Planet Earth and Blue Planet II, in addition to Nature’s Great Events, as well as Planet Earth’s Dynasties on Thursday, continuing on Friday with A Wild Year On Earth, Seven Worlds, One Planet, and Planet Earth.
· Attenborough’s Journey – Saturday, May 8 at 8PM/7c – As Sir David Attenborough enters his 95th year, this unique film presents a remarkable portrait of the man behind the legend. Documenting his extraordinary life, it follows Attenborough’s journey from his boyhood days as a fossil hunter and his early years as a presenter, to the many innovative shows that changed the face of natural history programming by pioneering the use of technology such as 3D and 4K. This intimate special follows Attenborough’s years on the road – from the islands of the Galapagos, to the mountains of Canada, to the jungles of Borneo. Combining exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, candid on location interviews and stunning moments from his groundbreaking documentaries, this film captures an Attenborough you have never seen before. Attenborough’s Journey is distributed internationally by ITV Studios.
· China: Nature’s Ancient Kingdom – Saturday, May 15 at 8/7c – The world’s largest conservation project has been created in China. Discover the breathtaking wildlife hidden inside its stunning national parks. Narrated by Oscar-nominee Vanessa Kirby, this stunning series opens with China’s mountainous terrains, where foxes, antelopes, and snow leopards thrive in harsh conditions. It then moves to dense forests that host the extraordinary snub-nosed monkeys and iconic giant pandas. Finally, on the fringes of the city, people must make space for nature and find a way to live alongside some spectacular animals. With 20% of China designated as protected land, how are the Chinese people adapting to their country’s conservation efforts? And could this landmark project inspire similar projects across the globe?
