Michael Ellenberg’s Media Res Launches Nonfiction Division Headed By Sarba Das; Sets ‘Humankind’ Docuseries With ‘Boys State’ Duo

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Ellenberg’s Media Res, the production company behind high-profile scripted series such as Apple TV+’s The Morning Show and upcoming Pachinko, is expanding into nonfiction.

The company has launched a new division, focused on premium nonfiction content, including docuseries, documentary films and unscripted programming.The new unit will be headed by veteran film and television producer/executive Sarba Das, most recently Head of Creative for Documentaries at A24, and has lined up its first project, Humankind, a docuseries based on Rutger Bregman’s bestelling book.

Emmy-winning Boys State directors/producers Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss are attached to direct. They also will executive produce the project through their Mile End Films shingle, along with Ellenberg and Das through Media Res, and author Bregman.With The Humankind, Ellenberg is extending the strategy he has employed in scripted — optioning bestselling books and developing them into series — to the non-scripted side.

His first moves after launching Media Res included optioning bestsellers “Top Of the Morning” and “Pachinko”. That led to the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show and Pachinko, the former headed to its third season and the latter premiering March 25.The Humankind docuseries makes the case for a radical idea in today’s world: what if human beings aren’t the jerks we are made out to be?