The History Channel Expands Diverse Storytelling Footprint with New Documentary “Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling” (wt) Exploring the Epic Showdown Between the Legendary Boxing Heavyweight Champions

The HISTORY Channel™ is continuing to showcase diverse stories and storytellers, in front of and behind the camera, with the greenlight of the new documentary “Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling” (working title) in partnership with UNINTERRUPTED and its award-winning studio team, it was announced today by Eli Lehrer, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for The HISTORY Channel. The two-hour documentary will join the previously announced project “Jim Thorpe: Lit by Lightning.”

“The creative partnership between The HISTORY Channel and UNINTERRUPTED has forged an unbreakable bond,” said Lehrer. “Each year, our teams aim to develop impactful and inspiring documentaries that highlight diverse heroes who overcame insurmountable odds to change history, and we deliver. We are thrilled to continue this partnership with telling these incredible stories that we believe our audiences will find as entertaining, as they do informative.”

“UNINTERRUPTED is inspired by empowering stories of resilience and perseverance that embolden audiences to recognize their own potential and power,” said Jamal Henderson, Chief Content Officer, Fulwell Entertainment. “We are grateful for partners like The HISTORY Channel who not only understand but appreciate the importance of diverse, entertaining and educational content.”

“Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling” (w.t.) will follow the parallel lives and careers of African American heavyweight champion Louis and German heavyweight champion Schmeling, who overcame significant social and political obstacles while going toe-to-toe in two of the most legendary boxing ring matchups of all time. With World War II on the horizon, the fights symbolized the broader social and political conflicts between the democratic United States and fascist Nazi Germany and would see these athletes forge an unlikely lifelong friendship, and a legendary place in history.

The partnership also includes the premiere of the previously announced documentary “Jim Thorpe: Lit by Lightning” about the legendary Olympian whose athletic prowess across baseball, football, and track and field made him one of the greatest athletes of all-time. Directed by Chris Eyre (Cheyenne and Arapaho), the project will showcase the life and legacy of the United States’ first Native American Olympic gold medalist and explore what it means to be American through the pivotal intersection of identity and sport.

“Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling” (w.t.) is produced for The HISTORY Channel by UNINTERRUPTED in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment. LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, and Philip Byron serve as executive producers for UNINTERRUPTED. Matthew Rissmiller serves as co-executive producer for UNINTERRUPTED. Richard Foster and Chet Fenster serve as executive producers for GroupM Motion Entertainment. Eli Lehrer and Jim Pasquarella serve as executive producers for The HISTORY Channel. Four-time Emmy award-winner Nikki Spetseris is executive producer and director.

“Jim Thorpe: Lit by Lightning” is produced for The HISTORY Channel by UNINTERRUPTED in association with INE Entertainment, Five All in the Fifth, and GroupM Motion Entertainment. LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, and Philip Byron serve as executive producers for UNINTERRUPTED. Chris Eyre is executive producer and director. Mark Koops, Eric Day, and Doug Banker are executive producers for INE Entertainment and Five All in the Fifth, respectively. Richard Foster and Chet Fenster serve as executive producers for GroupM Motion Entertainment. Eli Lehrer and Jim Pasquarella serve as executive producers for The HISTORY Channel. Courtney Whitaker and Matt Rissmiller serve as co-executive producers for UNINTERRUPTED.

A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights to “Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling” (w.t.) and “Jim Thorpe: Lit by Lightning”.