Love Nature, a wildlife and nature brand with linear and streaming channels available in over 130 countries, announced today that it has greenlit a new original commission, Gladiators (4 x 60’; UHD & HDR) from the multi-award-winning production company, Talesmith. 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 Northwest, African Savannah, Jungle Coasts and Australia. 

‍Gladiators, produced by Talesmith, will 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. 

Ruth Roberts, Executive Producer, Talesmith comments: “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 behaviour.”

Gladiators 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 stabilised 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.

Gladiators is produced by Talesmith for Love Nature and Sky Nature. The series 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.