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New Carl Sagan documentary in the works from National Geographic and
Seth MacFarlane
By Jeff Spry published about 20 hours ago
The 'Family Guy' and 'The Orville' creator unites with NatGeo to
celebrate the famed astronomer.

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Astronomer Carl Sagan pictured in 1981. (Image credit: Photo by Tony
Korody/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images)

Carl Sagan, the acclaimed astronomer, astrophysicist and author who
introduced a whole generation to the wonders of the heavens with his
bestselling "Cosmos" science book and TV series and made saying the
phrase "billions and billions" so much fun, is getting a new documentary
feature on his prolific career courtesy of NatGeo and Seth MacFarlane.

Per Deadline(opens in new tab), the starbound legend of Carl Sagan will
live on in a mind-expanding project being produced by National
Geographic Documentary Films in alliance with Fuzzy Door's Seth
MacFarlane and Erica Huggins, Emmy and Peabody winner Ann Druyan
(Sagan's life partner). Academy Award nominee Nanette Burstein ("On the
Ropes," "The Kid Stays in the Picture") is aboard as the film's director.

In addition to his many lifelong achievements, aptitude for teaching and
inspiring voice in astronomy and cosmology, Sagan's bestselling novel
"Contact" was adapted by director Robert Zemeckis ("Back to the Future,"
"Who Framed Roger Rabbit?") into the Academy Award-nominated 1997 sci-fi
feature starring Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey. Sadly, Sagan
passed away at the age of 62 in 1996, just prior to the Hollywood
movie's theatrical release.

Related: Carl Sagan: 'Cosmos,' Pale Blue Dot & famous quotes

'Cosmos' by Carl Sagan, The best-selling science book ever published in
the English language, COSMOS is a magnificent overview of the past,
present, and future of science. (Paperback). <a
href=http://store.hermanstreet.com/space/cosmos-carl-sagan-paperback/skin-Space?ICID=Space-article>Buy
Here</a>

'Cosmos' by Carl Sagan, The best-selling science book ever published in
the English language, COSMOS is a magnificent overview of the past,
present, and future of science. (Image credit: Space.com Store)
"Serving as an intimate and cinematic portrait of Sagan, the Untitled
Carl Sagan Documentary will explore his love story with partner Ann
Druyan and with science," said National Geographic Documentary Films in
an official statement.

"The film will include exclusive audio recordings, archival clips and
animation, along with interviews with his family, friends and
colleagues," the statement continued. "With the full support of Sagan's
family and friends, the film will present a fascinating look into the
life and career of one of the world's most inspiring and revolutionizing
scientists of our time."

This comprehensive Carl Sagan documentary currently has no release date
scheduled, but will be offered exclusively on National Geographic
channels and Disney+ when completed.

"Carl Sagan was a groundbreaking and revolutionary scientist who decoded
the complexity of the cosmos and made planetary science accessible and
relevant to audiences around the world," said Carolyn Bernstein,
executive vice president of documentary films for National Geographic.
"We are so excited to work with Nanette, Ann and Fuzzy Door to bring
Sagan's pioneering work and compelling personal story to a new
generation of admirers."

Carl Sagan

Legendary astrophysicist and author Carl Sagan. (Image credit: Getty Images)
RELATED STORIES:
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— Carl Sagan: Astronomy icon's legacy in pictures (gallery)

Producing partner Fuzzy Door is the creative shingle behind the hit
shows "The Orville," "Family Guy" and "American Dad!" and also produced
the Peabody award-winning reboot of Sagan's original "Cosmos" series,
"Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey," which accumulated 13 Emmy nominations and
was hosted by noted astrophysicist and science personality Neil deGrasse
Tyson.

"Carl's life is a multidimensional epic," said executive producer Ann
Druyan. "He was a pathfinder in the sciences and a force in the culture,
articulating the numinous wonder of a science-based sense of the sacred.
He is one of the greatest awakeners in our history, and I feel that with
Nanette, Fuzzy Door, Hungry Man and NatGeo, I now have the right
partners to tell his thrilling story."

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Jeff Spry
Contributing Writer
Jeff Spry is an award-winning screenwriter and veteran freelance
journalist covering TV, movies, video games, books, and comics. His work
has appeared at SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and
elsewhere. Jeff lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon amid the ponderosa
pines, classic muscle cars, a crypt of collector horror comics, and two
loyal English Setters.