HBO and Raw Are in Production on a Documentary Series About the Epic Release of a Famous Whale

HBO Documentary Films and Raw (“Three Identical Strangers,” “Don’t F*ck With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer”) are currently in production on a multi-part documentary series about the real life “Free Willy” whale named Keiko. The series, directed by Becky Read (“‘Twas the Fight Before Christmas,” executive producer on “The Greatest Night in Pop”), will debut on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.

The untitled documentary series tells the story of Keiko, the captive male orca who, after appearing in the blockbuster 1993 film “Free Willy,” was propelled into an extraordinary yet controversial journey that spanned across Mexico, the U.S., Iceland, and Norway. With exclusive access to never-before-seen archives and through the stories of those who worked closely with him, the documentary examines the unprecedented international effort to return Keiko to his home waters.

Becky Read, director, quote:

“I’m delighted to be partnering with HBO and Raw on this rich, complex story about our relationship to the natural world. I’m excited to bring some new voices to the screen to tell the story of Keiko’s life and chronicle a remarkable human endeavor by a group sometimes divided over the goal, but united by their good intentions.”

Credits: Directed by Becky Read; producer, Maria Drovnenkova; executive producers, Dimitri Doganis and Tom Sheahan.