National Geographic Channel to Present Unprecedented Global Event Series - MARS

Of all the planets in our solar system, none has captured our collective imagination like Mars - a mysterious, indelible part of the zeitgeist. The quest to send humans to Mars has engaged the top minds in Science in a modern-day space race, and it has infiltrated pop culture through blockbusters like Andy Weir's "The Martian" and through out-of-this-world tweets from astronaut Scott Kelly. Now, National Geographic Channel; Academy Award- and Emmy-winning producers Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Michael Rosenberg of Imagine Entertainment; and Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning producer Justin Wilkes, Academy Award- and Emmy-winning producer Jon Kamen, and Dave O'Connor of RadicalMedia and visionary Mexican filmmaker Everardo Gout ("Days of Grace"), have joined forces to launch viewers farther into outer space than ever before with the global event series MARS.

[CLICK TO DOWNLOAD TRAILER.Courtesy National Geographic Channel]

Premiering on the National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Mundo in the U.S. on Monday, Nov. 14 at 9/8c and internationally in 170 countries and 45 languages on Sunday, Nov. 13, MARS - which is set both in the future and in the present day - will redefine television storytelling by combining feature film-quality scripted drama and visual effects with best-in-class documentary sequences to drive forward a cohesive, edge-of-your-seat story of mankind's thrilling quest to colonize Mars. For more information, visit www.foxflash.com and www.MakeMarsHome.com.

This epic six-part global event series tells the inspiring story from the vantage point of a fictitious crewed mission to Mars in 2033. Executive producers Howard and Grazer hand-selected Gout to direct all six episodes of the series, filmed earlier this year in Budapest and Morocco. The scripted portion focuses on Earth's first crewed mission to MARS aboard the spacecraft Daedalus. Its maiden voyage in 2033 is crewed by a carefully selected international team of six uniquely qualified astronauts, including:

American mission commander Ben Sawyer (Ben Cotton), Korean-American mission pilot Hana Seung (Jihae), Spanish hydrologist and geochemist Javier Delgado (Alberto Ammann), French mission physician and biochemist Amelie Durand (Clementine Poidatz), Nigerian mechanical engineer and roboticist Robert Foucault (Sammi Rotibi) and Russian exobiologist and geologist Marta Kamen (Anamaria Marinca). Back on Earth, the Mars Mission Corporation (MMC) control team based in London includes Hana Seung's twin sister, capsule communicator Joon Seung (also played by Jihae), and French CEO of the MMC, Ed Grann (Olivier Martinez).

Once Daedalus successfully lands on Mars and sets up a preliminary base of operations, British nuclear physicist Leslie Richardson (Cosima Shaw) will lead a Phase 2 settlement team along with her husband, world-renowned experimental botanist Dr. Paul Richardson (John Light).

MARS truly brings together all of the world's leading minds in a way never before accomplished - think of the world's largest TED talk with the most fascinating people on Earth. Those interviewed on camera for the series include the following:

• Charles Bolden, Administrator, Former Astronaut, NASA
• Neil deGrasse Tyson, Director, Hayden Planetarium
• Peter Diamandis, Chairman and CEO, XPRIZE Foundation
• David Dinges, Director, Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania
• Casey Dreier, Director of Space Policy, The Planetary Society
• Ann Druyan, Creative Director, Voyager Interstellar Mission, NASA
• Charles Elachi, Director, LPL (Ret.)
• Jim Green, Division Director, Planetary Science, NASA
• John Grunsfeld, Associate Administrator, Former Astronaut, NASA
• Jennifer Heldmann, Planetary Scientist, NASA
• Jedidah Isler, award-winning astrophysicist; emerging Explorer, National Geographic
• Thomas Kalil, Deputy Director, White House Office of Science and Technology
• Roger Launius, Smithsonian Institution
• John Logsdon, Founder, Space Policy Institute, George Washington University
• James Lovell, Former NASA Astronaut, Apollo 13 Commander
• Elon Musk, CEO SpaceX
• Stephen Petranek, author, "How We'll Live on Mars"
• Mary Roach, author, "Packing for Mars"
• Jennifer Trosper, Mars 2020 Mission Manager, JPL
• Andy Weir, author, "The Martian"
• Robert Zubrin, President, The Mars Society

National Geographic will extend the MARS storytelling in an unprecedented cross-platform effort, including a six-part digital companion prequel series. Before MARS, which will launch prior to the premiere, is an extensive digital virtual reality experience at www.MakeMarsHome.com. There will also be the MARS Experience installation in New York City this October. Further, MARS will be the November cover story of National Geographic magazine and will be featured in a stand-alone National Geographic book, "MARS: Our Future on the Red Planet," on sale Oct. 25. The NG Kids book, "MARS: The Red Planet," will go on sale Sept. 27. There will be media and educational materials for kids a touring NG Live speakers series and ongoing MARS coverage on nationalgeographic.com.

Premiere episodes include:

MARS: Novo Mundo
Premieres, Monday, Nov. 14, at 9/8c
In 2033, the first human mission to Mars enters the red planet's atmosphere but the crew of the Daedalus faces a life-threatening emergency when the ship's landing system goes offline. The crew's commander risks his life to fix the problem as mission control monitors back on Earth. In the present-day documentary, SpaceX attempts to land the world's first reusable rocket in order to pioneer the critical technology that will help humans reach Mars.

MARS: Grounded
Premieres, Monday, Nov. 21 at 9/8c
In 2033, the Daedalus crew battles across the harsh Martian terrain to reach their prebuilt base camp. A race against the clock to reach the safety of camp begins when the ship commander reveals he has been injured during landing. In the present-day documentary, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly undergoes a historic yearlong mission on the International Space Station, revealing both the physical and emotional hardships astronauts face for space exploration.

MARS: Pressure Drop
Premieres, Monday, Nov. 28 at 9/8c
In 2033, the Daedalus mission is in jeopardy as the crew struggles to find a permanent shelter that can provide long-term protection from radiation. The team must locate a suitable site for their settlement before their mission is cut short. In the present day documentary, the European Space Agency and Roscosmos, Russia's former federal space agency, partner to launch an orbiter that will help future Mars missions prepare for settlement through advanced imagery.

MARS: Power
Premieres, Monday, Dec. 5 at 9/8c
Four years have passed since the Daedalus crew landed on Mars and established the first settlement, OLYMPUS Town. A new crew arrives to help execute plans for expansion and search for life. But a dust storm threatens the outpost. In the present-day documentary, the bustling McMurdo Station in Antarctica serves as a modern example of how humans will settle Mars, as scientists look for insights on how to discover life on another planet.

MARS: Darkest Days
Premieres, Monday, Dec. 12 at 9/8c
In 2037, the dust storm has lasted for months and the OLYMPUS Town settlement's infrastructure is suffering as well as the mental well-being of its residents. The psychological pressures of life on Mars reveal themselves while the crew is trapped inside the habitat. In the present-day documentary, scientists study the effects of extreme isolation in various long-term analog missions in order to prepare for a future manned mission to Mars.

MARS: Crossroads
Premieres, Monday, Dec. 19 at 9/8c
In 2037, a devastating tragedy in the COLONY forces everyone on Mars and Earth to question the mission. While the OLYMPUS Town settlement tries to cope and continue its mission, controlling groups back on Earth struggle with a potential decision to end the mission. In the present-day documentary, commercial space company SpaceX again attempts to pioneer the rocket technology that would help mankind reach the red planet.

MARS is produced by Imagine Entertainment and RadicalMedia for NGC. For Imagine Entertainment, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Michael Rosenberg are executive producers. For RadicalMedia, Justin Wilkes, Jon Kamen, Dave O'Connor, Jonathan Silberberg are executive producers. For NGC, Robert Palumbo is executive producer; Matt Renner is vice president, production; and Tim Pastore is president, original programming and production.

About National Geographic Channels

The National Geographic Channels (The Channels) form the television and production arm of National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between 21st Century FOX and the National Geographic Society. As a global leader in premium science, adventure and exploration programming, the Channels include: National Geographic Channel (NGC), Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo People and Nat Geo MUNDO. Additionally, the Channels also run the in-house television production unit, National Geographic Studios. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with entertaining, innovative programming from A-level talent around the world, and with profits that help support the society's mission. Globally, NGC is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages, and NAT GEO WILD is available in 131 countries and 38 languages. National Geographic Partners is also a leader in social media, with a fan base of 250 million people across all of its social pages. NGC contributes over 55 million social media fans globally on Facebook alone. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com and www.natgeowild.com.

About Imagine

Imagine Entertainment was founded in 1986 by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer to create independently produced feature films, television programs and other original programming. Imagine Entertainment has been honored with more than 60 prestigious awards, including 10 Academy Awards and 40 Emmy awards. Past productions include Academy Award Best Picture winner "A Beautiful Mind," as well as "Apollo 13," "American Gangster," "The Da Vinci Code," "8 Mile," "Liar, Liar," "Backdraft" and "Parenthood," to name a few. Upcoming films include "Inferno," the third installment of the Dan Brown franchise; "American Made," starring Tom Cruise; and "The Beatles: 8 Days a Week - The Touring Years," a documentary about The Beatles. Current television productions include Fox's "Empire," "Shots Fired!" and "24: Legacy," as well as National Geographic Channel's BREAKTHROUGH and Genius series. Past television productions include NBC's "Parenthood," NBC's "Friday Night Lights," Fox's "24" and "24: Live Another Day" and Fox's and Netflix's "Arrested Development," as well as HBO's "From the Earth to the Moon," for which Howard and Grazer won the Emmy for Outstanding Mini-Series. Ron Howard and Brian Grazer began their collaboration in 1985 with the hit comedies "Night Shift" and "Splash."

About RadicalMedia

Since 1993, RadicalMedia has produced numerous films and television programs that tell nuanced, multifaceted stories, including the Emmy-winning, Academy- and Grammy-nominated documentary, WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE? and the critically acclaimed Keith Richards: Under the Influence, both for Netflix; the Academy Award and Spirit Award-winning documentary, The Fog of War; Grammy Award-winning Concert for George; Paul Simon's GRACELAND Journey: Under African Skies, Joe Berlinger's Emmy Award-winning documentary examining the making of the groundbreaking and controversial Paul Simon record Graceland; The Ron Howard helmed Jay-Z documentary, Made In America, Joe Berlinger's Spirit Award-winning documentary, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, the Academy Award and multiple Emmy-nominated Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory and Whitey: The US vs. James J. Bulger. Additional Television credits include, Oprah's Master Class, Iconoclasts, David Blaine: Real or Magic, the Emmy-winning PARK BENCH with Steve Buscemi, Judgement Day: Prison or Parole? for Investigation Discovery, and the highly anticipated October 2016 documentary, Hamilton's America about Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway megahit.

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