The HBO documentary series The Case Against Adnan Syed, which examines an incredibly complicated and controversial murder case, returns for a new episode on September 18, 2025. “Part Five: The Tree Grew” picks up the case following the appearance of a new suspect and news of undisclosed evidence.
Directed by Oscar nominee Amy J. Berg (Phoenix Rising, It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley), the new episode features interviews with Adnan Syed; Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby; attorney and Syed family friend, Rabia Chaudry; attorney for Adnan Syed, Erica J. Suter; attorneys Susan Simpson and Becky Feldman; Syed’s mother, Shamim Rahman, and brother, Yusef Syed.
HBO offers this lengthy description of Part 5:
“‘Part Five: The Tree Grew’ captures the latest chapter for Adnan Syed, whose story was first captured in the popular podcast ‘Serial.’ Amy J. Berg’s 2019 HBO four-part documentary series The Case Against Adnan Syed explores the 1999 murder of high school student Hae Min Lee and the arrest and conviction of Syed, who was her ex-boyfriend at the time. Featuring exclusive access to Adnan, this new episode chronicles the turns in the case that unfold after a suspect from the original investigation into Lee’s murder is caught assaulting a woman. This development led Adnan’s legal team to revisit the case and demand a new investigation. When the state attorney’s office steps in, the prosecution pushes back, resulting in a legal and political tug-of-war that thrusts Adnan’s case into chaotic uncertainty.
This all-new episode chronicles Adnan’s personal journey from incarceration to freedom and his eventual reunion with family after 23 years behind bars. During the year-long investigation led by his new lawyer Erica J. Suter and supported by Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, new information is unearthed, exposing flaws in the original investigation and prosecution, including undisclosed evidence pointing to other potential suspects, suppressed witness testimony, and DNA from the crime scene that has remained untested.”
Amy J. Berg wrote, directed, and served as an executive producer. Additional executive producers include Henrietta Conrad, Jemima Khan, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Tina Nguyen, and Rabia Chaudry. Jenna Cedicci and Dana Kuznetzkoff are the producers.
Poster for HBO’s ‘The Case Against Adnan Syed Part 5’
Domhnall Gleeson, Tim Key, Chelsea Frei, and Melvin Gregg in ‘The Paper’ (Photo by: Aaron Epstein/PEACOCK)
If you are desperate for a series in the same vein as The Office, Peacock’s got you covered with The Paper. Oscar Nuñez reprises his role from The Office, and fans can expect cameos and Easter eggs when all 10 episodes of season one premiere on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
The series is already confirmed to return for season two ahead of its premiere.
“The documentary crew that immortalized Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch in the Emmy Award-winning series The Office find a new subject when they discover a historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it,” reads Peacock’s synopsis.
Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young, Tim Key, and Nuñez star. Domhnall Gleeson leads the ensemble as the new editor of a struggling newspaper.
During a recent press conference, Gleeson confirmed he prepared for the role by speaking with journalists about their daily routines.
“I think it was more for my own head than for anything that was necessarily, like, hugely useful in the show. But I went to Ohio because I hadn’t been around that part of the country before. I went to Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo… Chatted to loads of journalists from loads of different newspapers, shadowed a couple of people. And just chatted to them about what being a journalist was like and being an editor is like these days,” said Gleeson.
Gleeson continued, “And really interesting, the difference between the people who’ve come into it recently, who have chosen to come into an industry that’s tough. Has always been tough, but it’s particularly tough at the moment. And then the people who have seen it go from being a huge behemoth to slowly [shrinking]. So hearing the difference, but then what they all had in common was that they were still trying and that they still believe in the foundations of it, and I think that was really useful for Ned, just that constant belief that is possible. So I think that was the main thing I brought in.”
The series was created by Greg Daniels (The Office) and Michael Koman (Nathan for You) who serve as writers, executive producers, and co-showrunners. Additional executive producers include Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Howard Klein, Ben Silverman, and Banijay Americas. Daniels, Ken Kwapis, Yana Gorskaya, Paul Lieberstein, Tazbah Chavez, Jason Woliner, Jennifer Celotta, Matt Sohn, Dave Rogers, and Jeff Blitz are the season one directors.
‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 34 hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough (Disney/Jai Lennard)
ABC’s Dancing with the Stars season 34 celebrities will include an Olympic gold medalist, an NBA all-star, and multiple reality TV stars, including two from The Secret Lives of Morman Wives. In addition, the season 34 cast features social media influencers, comedian Andy Richter, and a Grammy winner.
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough serve as co-hosts. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough will be judging the celebrities and their partners.
Season 34 premieres on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 8pm ET/PT.
Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Partners:
• From The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Jen Affleck with partner Jan Ravnik
• Author and wellness influencer Hilaria Baldwin and partner Gleb Savchenko
• Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles with partner Ezra Sosa
• NBA All-Star Baron Davis with partner Britt Stewart
• Social media personality Alix Earle with partner Val Chmerkovskiy
• Social media and reality TV star Dylan Efron and partner Daniella Karagach
• Actor and musician Corey Feldman with partner Jenna Johnson
• Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel with partner Pasha Pashkov
• Film and TV actress Elaine Hendrix with partner Alan Bersten
• From “Pentatonix,” GRAMMY winner Scott Hoying with partner Rylee Arnold
• Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin with partner Witney Carson
• From “Fifth Harmony,” Lauren Jauregui with partner Brandon Armstrong
• From The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Whitney Leavitt with partner Mark Ballas
• Comedian Andy Richter with partner Emma Slater
ABC provided the following details on the season 34 celebrity contestants:
Jen Affleck is a social media influencer and reality television star known for her role in Hulu’s hit reality TV series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. When she is not filming her TV show or her next viral TikTok, she and her husband, Zac Affleck, are spending quality time with their three children.
Affleck started her career as a successful content creator with almost 4 million followers across all her social platforms. She gained popularity through her #MomTok content, which showcases her bubbly personality and daily life as a Mormon mother, leading to her current journey in television. Despite facing challenges from mental health to relationships, Affleck remains dedicated to her family and faith, using her platform to build a community full of fun and joy.
Hilaria Baldwin is an entrepreneur, host, and author. She was the host of The Baldwins, a reality show on TLC about the behind-the-scenes look at her and Alec’s lives with 7 children. She’s also the author of Manual Not Included; Glowing Up: Recipes to Rock Your Natural Beauty with her daughter Carmen; and The Living Clearly Method. Hilaria lives in NYC with her husband, Alec, and 7 kids.
Jordan Chiles is a renowned gymnast and two-time Olympian. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she helped secure a silver medal for Team USA with a standout performance. A passionate advocate for body positivity and mental health, Chiles inspires young athletes around the globe. In 2022, she became one of only three Black gymnasts to sweep the podium at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships; and the following year, she earned two NCAA individual titles with UCLA while embarking on a new chapter as a Nike athlete.
Returning to elite competition in 2024, Chiles played a key role in leading Team USA to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, cementing her status as a trailblazer in the sport.
Baron Davis is a two-time NBA All-Star, serial entrepreneur, investor, and creator of thought-provoking content and digital platforms. Davis is the founder of several companies, including Sports, Lifestyle in Culture (SLiC), Business Inside the Game (B.I.G.), UWish, and More Than Us; each combines creative talent with original publication and production to develop and provide educational and empowering stories that appeal to global audiences of all ages.
Davis also served as producer of several acclaimed documentaries, including Crips and Bloods: Made In America, 30 for 30: Sole Man, and The Drew: No Excuse, Just Produce. With his production company, No Label, Davis was the executive producer of the Hulu Originals show WTF, Baron Davis; and he directed, wrote, and stars in the upcoming comedy, Domino: Battle of the Bones.
Alix Earle is a leading global social media personality, acclaimed for her incomparable online engagement which has been described by media and brands as the Alix Earle [sold out] Effect. Her rapid rise in popularity and her unique ability to connect with mass audiences across multiple demographics are a result of her unexpected reality and candid humor, paired with her authentic beauty, fashion, and lifestyle tips.
Earle has collaborated with and invested in brands including poppi and SipMARGS, appeared in major brand campaigns and Super Bowl spots, and launched her own philanthropic initiative, Serving in Heels. She is also the creator and host of the hit “Hot Mess” vlog-style podcast.
Dylan Efron is a producer, content creator, and outdoor enthusiast known for his compelling presence across digital media and television. In 2025, Efron was crowned the winner of the third season of The Traitors, where his authenticity and sharp gameplay earned him a Critics’ Choice nomination for Male Star of the Year. Originally from California, Efron began his career behind the scenes on major films like American Sniper and A Star Is Born, before stepping into his own spotlight as a creator, athlete, and media personality whose work continues to engage and inspire a global audience.
After gaining widespread recognition as the co-producer and co-star of Netflix’s Emmy Award-winning eco-travel series Down to Earth with Zac Efron, which premiered at No. 1 globally, Dylan continues to produce compelling digital content that showcases his passion for sustainability, exploration, and immersive storytelling. Most recently, he released the 2025 documentary The Village That Saved a Fish, which follows a remote Guyanese village working to protect an endangered species. The film surpassed 1 million views in its first week. He also has hosted Flow State, a series that documents extreme physical challenges and adrenaline-driven storytelling.
Corey Feldman began his acting career at just 3½ years old when he auditioned for a McDonald’s commercial—which went on to earn a Clio Award and aired for eight consecutive years. By the time he was 4, he was already filming regularly, and now, Feldman is proudly celebrating his 50th anniversary in entertainment. From a career that has garnered over 100 theatrical films—18 of which were No. 1 at the box office—along with over 100 television appearances, five TV series, 20 U.S. tours with various bands, three Billboard Top 40 hits, multiple viral videos, and a historic Today Show performance that became the most-viewed musical act on the show at the time, Feldman’s legacy continues to evolve.
As one of the original stars of The Goonies, Feldman is also helping to celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary by co-producing a new docuseries that chronicles the refurbishment of the iconic Goonies house—a nostalgic landmark for fans across generations. Behind the camera, Feldman has produced two documentaries as well as a feature film about his life for the Lifetime channel. He is also the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Coreyography.
Danielle Fishel is best known for her iconic role as Topanga on the ’90s TGIF staple Boy Meets World. She would later reprise the role for Girl Meets World, a millennial reboot that ran for three seasons on Disney Channel. Since 2017, Fishel has moved behind the camera, directing over 50 episodes of multicamera television, including Disney Channel’s Wizards Beyond Waverly Place and Raven’s Home (for which she was nominated for two Emmys®), ABC’s Shifting Gears and NBC’s Lopez vs. Lopez. She also co-hosts the hit iHeart podcast “Pod Meets World,” alongside her best friends and former costars Will Friedle and Rider Strong.
Additionally, Fishel is passionate about her clean and affordable hair care line, Be Free by Danielle Fishel, which is available online and through QVC.
Elaine Hendrix – An icon to generations, she is beloved for her unforgettable roles in Disney’s The Parent Trap, SNL’s Superstar, and the cult classic Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion. She also dazzled as the legendary Alexis Carrington in The CW’s hit Dynasty reboot and frequently collaborates with Denis Leary in projects like FX’s Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, Universal’s Erase, and FOX’s Super Bowl campaign “Dogs Playing Poker.”
Her work includes fan-favorite TV shows (Friends, Two and a Half Men, CSI, Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles, Transparent), acclaimed films (Adopt a Highway with Ethan Hawke, SXSW Jury Award winner Slanted), and she recently reunited with Lindsay Lohan for a cameo in Disney’s smash hit Freakier Friday. On stage, she has starred in “Designing Women,” “Steel Magnolias” and “A Streetcar Named Desire,” is currently co-producing the buzzworthy off-Broadway sensation “Ginger Twinsies,” and will soon headline as Dolly Levi in OFC Creations Theatre Center’s 2026 production of “Hello, Dolly!”
Scott Hoying is a three-time GRAMMY Award-winning and Emmy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, and artist. While studying music at USC, he discovered his passion for a cappella and started the a cappella group, Pentatonix. The vocal quintet quickly rose to international fame and has collaborated with Kelly Clarkson, Dolly Parton, Maren Morris, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, and Andrea Bocelli, among others. With Pentatonix, Hoying has won three GRAMMY Awards, sold more than 13 million albums, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Robert Irwin is a passionate wildlife conservationist who is determined to protect wildlife and inspire others through his work behind and in front of the lens as a nature photographer and TV presenter. Irwin and his family live at Australia Zoo and also operate the nonprofit charity, Wildlife Warriors. There is nothing he enjoys more than heading out into the Crocoseum to participate in daily croc demonstrations, where he has the opportunity to share his love and knowledge of his favorite animal, crocodiles.
Lauren Jauregui – Multiplatinum Cuban American singer-songwriter Lauren Jauregui began as one-fifth of the award-winning, arena-filling, and chart-dominating Fifth Harmony. Projecting her voice across popular culture, she has collaborated with everyone from Halsey and Steve Aoki to Ty Dolla $ign. She dropped her first solo single, “Expectations,” during 2018, generating over 100 million streams, and contributed “Invisible Chains” to Birds of Prey: The Album.
Outside of music, Jauregui is an activist for social justice initiatives and environmental awareness, including human rights, women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, and care for our planet. She embraced freedom of expression both personally and creatively on her independent debut, “Prelude,” showcasing every side of herself with no shortage of spirit, sensuality, style and soul for an unfiltered and undeniable depiction of who she is. Her first solo album is currently in the works for 2026 and expected to be one of the most unforgettable releases of the year.
Whitney Leavitt — the “breakout star” (Vulture) of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — touts an audience of 3.1 million-plus across TikTok and Instagram. She just wrapped Season 2 of the show, which premiered with 5 million views after five days of global streaming. The 32-year-old mom of three has been featured by Vulture, Jimmy Kimmel Live, People Magazine, Glamour, and more.
Andy Richter is an actor, comedian, and writer, best known for his years as Conan O’Brien’s sidekick on Late Night, The Tonight Show, and CONAN. He is currently the host of “The Three Questions” podcast, as well as the SiriusXM show “The Andy Richter Call-in Show.” As an actor, he has appeared in films such as Elf and Madagascar, as well as television shows such as Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Andy Barker, P.I. and Arrested Development.
How incredible is it that we don’t have to wait years for another entry in the 28 Days Later franchise? 28 Years Later took 23 years to get here, but its sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is opening in theaters a mere six months later.
This latest entry in the franchise, directed by Nia DaCosta (The Marvels, Candyman), will expand on the world created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, with Garland back as screenwriter. Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, and Jack O’Connell star, along with Erin Kellyman and Chi Lewis-Parry.
“In a continuation of the epic story, Dr. Kelson (Fiennes) finds himself in a shocking new relationship—with consequences that could change the world as they know it—and Spike’s (Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (O’Connell) becomes a nightmare he can’t escape,” reads Sony Pictures’ synopsis. “In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival—the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.”
Danny Boyle, Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, and Bernard Bellew serve as producers. 28 Days Later star Cillian Murphy is an executive producer and will appear in the film.
Commenting on Murphy’s continuing involvement in the franchise during press for 28 Years Later, Danny Boyle told Variety, “He’s an executive producer on this and was enormously supportive. He appears briefly in Nia’s film. I don’t think that’s giving too much away, and our plan is that he will be an enormous character in the third film in the way that Jack O’Connell’s character—who you see briefly at the end of the first film—is an enormous character with Ralph Fiennes in the next film.”
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple opens in theaters on January 16, 2026.
21 talented chefs, including sous chefs, private chefs, and a line cook, will be going head-to-head on season one of Netflix’s Next Gen Chef. The eight-episode first season is hosted by Olivia Culpo and has Carlton McCoy and Kelsey Barnard Clark serving as judges.
Season one premieres on September 17, 2025.
“Inside the world’s most prestigious culinary school, 21 of America’s hottest young chefs, under the age of 30, compete in a one-of-a-kind competition,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “The Culinary Institute of America has set a rigorous gauntlet of tests to find who is worthy of being crowned the leading chef of the next generation.”
Poster for Netflix’s ‘Next Gen Chef’
Next Gen Chef: Meet the Contestants
• Abby Kirn, 30, Private Chef
• Alicia Herranz, 22, R&D Chef at Restaurante Barro
• Andrew Sargent, 29, Sous Chef at Per Se
• Courtney Evans, 25, Sous Chef for 3rd & Fernwood
• Eli Kochman, 24, Chef de Partie at Chleo
• Ilke Schaaf, 23, Line Cook
• Jacob-Bao Nguyen, 30, Private Chef / Owner of Than Thai Pop-Up
• Javauneeka Jacobs, 27, Chef at Frontera Grill
• Joaquin Cariaso, 23, Sous Chef at Charlie Palmer Steak NYC
• Karla Perez, 21, Tournant at Blue HIll at Storm Barns
• Keyana Jadali, 30, Private Chef
• Khan Bataa, 27, Sous Chef at Hamdi
• London Chase, 29, Jr. Sous Chef at Essential by Christophe
• Max Centauro, 28, Sous Chef at Carriage House NYC
• Nikki Patterson-Nash, 29, Private Chef
• Peter McTiernan, 25, Executive Chef at Dio Mio
• Sam Driscoll, 26, Chef de Cuisine at Tavern on State
• Sam Etienne, 28, Private Chef at Rose Catering
• Sam Seideman, 20, Private Chef & Student
• Sidney Rubenstein, 21, Private Chef for New York Jets
• Zachary Ethan Atkins, 26, Traveling Chef
Olivia Culpo’s hosting resume includes the 2025 Super Bowl Pre-Show on Tubi, the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Runway Show on Amazon Prime, and the Miss Universe Pageant on Roku. Culpo starred in The Culpo Sisters on TLC and HBO Max, and was a recurring judge on Project Runway.
Next Gen Chef executive producers include Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Nan Strait, Dan Volpe, Pip Wells, Tina Nicotera Bachmann, Michael Simkin, and Erik Osterholm. Carrie Kaylor, LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, Philip Byron, and Dr. Tim Ryan also serve as executive producers. The series is produced by Alfred Street Industries, UltraBoom Media, and Fulwell Entertainment.
Marvel Animation and Disney+ have set a September 24, 2025 premiere date for Marvel Zombies, a more adult-skewing animated series that asks the question: who will save us from our heroes? The release date news was accompanied by the first trailer along with a new poster for the animated series.
The four-episode series features the voices of familiar Marvel stars, including Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Tessa Thompson, Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Hailee Steinfeld, Wyatt Russell, Randall Park, Iman Vellani, and Dominique Thorne.
“After the Avengers are overtaken by a zombie plague, a desperate group of survivors discover the key to bringing an end to the super-powered undead, racing across a dystopian landscape and risking life and limb to save their world,” reads Disney+ and Marvel Animation’s synopsis.
Bryan Andrews and Zeb Wells created the series and serve as executive producers along with Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, and Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt. Danielle Costa and Carrie Wassenaar are the producers.
Poster for ‘Marvel Zombies’ (Photo Credit: Marvel Animation)
Paramount+ kicked off September with the release of the official Tulsa King season three trailer. Season three arrives later this month, and the trailer shows Dwight (Sylvester Stallone) going up against new, powerful adversaries.
The new season will feature the introduction of Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson’s character, Russell Lee Washington Jr. Jackson will continue with the character, starring in the Tulsa King spinoff, NOLA King.
In addition to Stallone, the season three cast includes Martin Starr, Garrett Hedlund, Dana Delany, Jay Will, Annabella Sciorra, Neal McDonough, Robert Patrick, and Beau Knapp. Bella Heathcote, Chris Caldovino, McKenna Quigley Harrington, Mike “Cash Flo” Walden, Kevin Pollak, Vincent Piazza, Frank Grillo, Michael Beach, and James Russo also star.
“In season three, as Dwight’s empire expands, so do his enemies and the risks to his crew,” reads Paramount+’s synopsis. “Now, he faces his most dangerous adversaries in Tulsa yet: the Dunmires, a powerful old-money family that doesn’t play by old-world rules, forcing Dwight to fight for everything he’s built and protect his family.”
Paramount+ has set a streaming premiere date of Sunday, September 21, 2025 for the upcoming season.
The series is executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, Sylvester Stallone, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Jim McKay, Sheri Elwood, Ildy Modrovich, and Keith Cox. Dave Erickson is the showrunner and serves as an executive producer.
Warwick Davis to star in ‘Harry Potter’ series (Photograph by Aidan Monaghan/HBO)
Warwick Davis will be reprising his role as Professor Filius Flitwick from the Harry Potter films for HBO’s upcoming series. Davis’ casting news was announced in conjunction with the annual Back to Hogwarts celebration of all things Harry Potter.
HBO also confirmed the addition of seven actors who’ll be playing Hogwarts students and staff, as well as a Gringotts employee. Elijah Oshin will play Dean Thomas, Finn Stephens is Vincent Crabbe, William Nash is Gregory Goyle, Sirine Saba is Professor Pomona Sprout, Richard Durden is Professor Cuthbert Binns, and Bríd Brennan is Madam Poppy Pomfrey. Leigh Gill is on board to play Griphook.
The newcomers join previously announced series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Hagrid. Katherine Parkinson plays Molly Weasley, Lox Pratt is Draco Malfoy, Johnny Flynn is Lucius Malfoy, Leo Earley is Seamus Finnigan, and Alessia Leoni is Parvati Patil. Rory Wilmot takes on the role of Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson plays Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey is Madam Rolanda Hooch, and Anton Lesser plays Garrick Ollivander.
Sienna Moosah is Lavender Brown, Bel Powley plays Petunia Dursley, Daniel Rigby is Vernon Dursley, and Bertie Carvel plays Cornelius Fudge. Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse appear in recurring roles as Quirinus Quirrell and Argus Filch.
Filming is currently underway at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, UK. HBO is targeting a 2027 premiere.
Francesca Gardiner adapted the first book of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling novels and serves as an executive producer. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman also executive produce. Mark Mylod executive produces and directs multiple season one episodes.
A scene from ‘Ghost Elephants’ (Photo Credit: Wilderness Project Archive)
National Geographic Documentary Films has picked up Werner Herzog’s Ghost Elephants documentary. The acquisition comes following the film’s Venice Film Festival premiere and prior to its screening at the Telluride Film Festival. The film is expected to have a theatrical release along with a streaming premiere on Disney+ and Hulu in 2026.
Herzog wrote, directed, and narrated the documentary, which charts National Geographic Explorer Steve Boyes’ quest to prove the existence of the massive land animals.
“After meeting Steve Boyes, an unexpected project that felt like the hunt for Moby Dick, the white whale, came at me with great urgency,” said Herzog. “Like many of my films, this is an exploration of dreams, of imagination—weighed against reality. The film took me to what the local tribesmen call ‘The Land at the End of the Earth.'”
The feature-length documentary is produced by Ariel León Isacovitch, with Sobey Road Entertainment as the producing partner. Brian Nugent, Andrew Trapani, Emerson Farrell, David Sze, David B. Kirk, Terrence Battle, and Casey Graf serve as executive producers. Additional executive producers include Carolyn Bernstein and Tim Horsburgh.
“As we pondered the fate of the ghost elephants, one thing became clear: They may hold the key to protecting the waters that give life to the Okavango,” stated Boyes. “For thousands of years, elephants have been the architects of landscapes and the nurturers of ecosystems that allow other species to thrive. And after bearing witness to war, their resilience carries from one generation to the next. To find them is to believe in a future where this Lisima landscape fully thrives for people and nature.”
“We are thrilled to bring Werner Herzog’s Ghost Elephants to streaming audiences worldwide,” commented Carolyn Bernstein, executive vice president of Documentary Films at National Geographic. “This film’s captivating visual poetry gives viewers a front-row seat to Boyes’ quest to uncover the truth behind the legend of these magnificent and elusive creatures.”
National Geographic offered this description of Oscar nominee Werner Herzog’s new documentary:
“In the mist-covered highlands of Angola, deep within Africa’s last great subtropical forest, a mystery endures: the elusive ghost elephants of Lisima, the potential living descendants of the largest land mammal ever recorded. Steve Boyes, conservation biologist and National Geographic’s Okavango Wilderness Project leader, is determined to prove their existence.
In order to find these elusive elephants, Boyes and fellow National Geographic Explorer Kerllen Costa have teamed up with three KhoiSan master trackers—Qui (/ui), Qui-Dawid, and Kobus. Refugees from a war-torn past and considered among the most marginalized people in southern Africa, the trackers return to their ancestral lands to succeed where advanced technology could not.
Guided by trance, memory, and the sacred ‘Elephant Dance,’ their journey becomes an odyssey through a land of living myth, where forest spirits guard ancient lakes and the Luchaze people remain the last watchers of a vanishing world. As they reconnect with the ‘Source of Life’—the waters that sustain the Okavango Basin across Angola, Namibia and Botswana—they seek not just lost elephants but a path back to identity, hope, and belonging.
Through Herzog’s visionary storytelling style, sweeping visuals, and rare access to the Luchaze people, Ghost Elephants is a lyrical tale of survival, reconnection, and the enduring power of ancient knowledge in the face of modern loss.”
ABC News Studios’ true crime documentary series Betrayal returns for season three on September 2, 2025 on Hulu. Season three, Betrayal: Under His Eye, investigates the case of Dr. Justin Rutherford, who was sentenced to 26 years for disturbing sexual assaults.
The three-part docuseries features interviews with Rutherford’s family members as well as never-before-seen evidence. In addition to court testimony and audio, Betrayal: Under His Eye includes an interview with actor Anthony Edwards, an advocate for survivors of sexual abuse.
The documentary series is based on the popular “Betrayal” true crime podcast. Executive producers include Nancy Glass, Jon Hirsch, Conal Byrne, and Muriel Pearson. David Sloan is the senior executive producer, with Glass Entertainment and ABC News Studios producing.
Poster for ‘Betrayal: Under His Eye’ (Photo Credit: ABC News)
ABC News Studios offers this synopsis:
“Betrayal: Under His Eye follows Stacey, a single mother whose whirlwind romance with charming physician Dr. Justin Rutherford seemed like a dream come true. The couple married, moved into a beautiful new home, and began creating what felt like a picture-perfect life together—until the discovery of a hidden camera in the family’s home unearthed dark secrets. Stacey was forced to confront a devastating betrayal that shook her family to its core.
Eventually, Rutherford is put behind bars when a key witness comes forward, and Stacey and her children begin the long process of healing and finding a new normal. But just as they start to rebuild, the case takes an even more disturbing turn when Rutherford is accused of plotting murder to silence the case’s key witness.”
