National Geographic has partnered with Rex on the new docuseries tentatively titled “Top Gun: The Next Generation.”
Rex, part of Zinc Media Group, will produce the series for Nat Geo. It follows the students of the U.S. Navy’s most elite fighter pilot program, which was popularized by the blockbuster films “Top Gun” and “Top Gun: Maverick” starring Tom Cruise.
Per the official description, the series “follows a group of officers as they push their limits on the grueling Advanced Flight Training Program. For the first time ever, they will be embarking on some of the most challenging flight tests possible including landing on an aircraft carrier at sea. The elite nature of the course means that only a minority – the very best – will make it to the top to fly the world’s most advanced jet – the F-35C Lightning II.”
The series will feature sprawling aerial sequences as well as intimate interviews with the pilots as they make their way through the program.
“With so many millions of fans of the film around the world, I was immediately drawn to this series – these elite jet pilots are not only extremely accomplished and impressive, but all have very different stories to tell,” said Tom McDonald, EVP of Global Factual and Unscripted Content for National Geographic. “With Nat Geo’s exclusive unprecedented inside access, this series promises to be an exhilarating, visually jaw-dropping and fascinating journey into the intensely competitive world of elite flying.”
The series was created by Karen Edwards, who is also showrunner. Tanya Shaw, managing director of Zinc Television, will executive produce. For Rex, the series director is Lana Salah. For National Geographic, commissioning editor is Simon Raikes; Charlie Parsons is senior vice president, Development.
“The intimate access we have gained to the characters and the emotional character-led story arcs that run through the series will paint a vivid, compelling narrative around the young men and women embarking on this highly stressful process,” Shaw said. “That narrative will elevate the series beyond the noise and spectacle of fighter jets to tell the tense, nuanced and poignant human stories behind the public-facing bravado. This is a unique project and we are thrilled to be bringing it to viewers.”
