Love Nature greenlights new commission, "Gladiators"

Love Nature has greenlit a new original commission, "Gladiators," from the multi-award-winning production company, Talesmith. “The stunning footage and fascinating effects in Gladiators bring intense battles to life with storytelling that will have audiences rooting for the underdog, while feeling the awe of the champion,” says Carlyn Staudt, General Manager of Love Nature. “We’re excited to be working with world-class partners, including the talented team at Talesmith and our content and co-production partner, Sky.”

Produced by Talesmith, "Gladiators" is scheduled to premiere globally on Love Nature in 2024. The series is a co-production with Sky and will also air on Sky Nature in the UK, Germany, and Italy as part of Love Nature and Sky’s expanded content partnership. Blue Ant International oversees pre-sales and licensing outside of commissioning territories. Gladiators is produced by Talesmith for Love Nature and Sky Nature. It is executive produced by Martin Williams and Ruth Roberts at Talesmith, with Alex Hemingway as showrunner. James Manfull executive produces the series on behalf of Love Nature. For Sky Nature, Tom Barry is the executive producer.

 Blue Ant International handles pre-sales and licensing opportunities in other available territories. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with our great colleagues at Love Nature and Sky Nature on this ambitious series. Gladiators will be innovative, intimate natural-history storytelling at its best, with our team of incredible filmmakers capturing iconic moments in new detail and revealing previously hidden aspects of animal behavior," Ruth Roberts, Executive Producer, Talesmith, said.

The series depicts life-defining battles among the animal kingdom’s greatest rivalries, infused with slow-motion graphic effects that intensify the drama. Like gladiatorial battles, the animal showdowns are set in different wild “arenas” including the Pacific Northweset, African Savannah, jungle coasts and Australia. It breaks down wildlife battles moment by moment, revealing super slow-motion moments of unseen bravery between the prize fighters. Stunning 4K footage is combined with techniques including stabilized drones and VFX-animated freeze-frames that drastically slow down time, capturing intimate, up close, and rarely seen detail. The episodes also examine the aftermath of a battle, breaking down the use of weapons versus intelligence and the role of sidekicks versus armies, giving audiences an up-close look at the nuances and context of each ecosystem.