Netflix has confirmed a second season of ITN Production’s Ancient Apocalypse with Keanu Reeves to guest star.
Journalist and best-selling author Graham Hancock’s new 6 x 40-minute series Ancient Apocalypse: the Americas, will be released on Netflix on Wednesday 16th October.
In the second series produced by ITN Productions, Hancock goes to the Americas to search for evidence supporting his hypothesis that an advanced civilization was lost to history in the series of cataclysms that brought the last Ice Age to an apocalyptic end between 12,800 and 11,600 years ago.
Each episode investigates new discoveries being made in the American hemisphere, which until recently has been largely under-explored by archaeologists interested in humanity’s origins. Hancock “reveals new findings and speculates about how those findings might suggest the existence of a globe-traveling advanced civilization that left traces of itself in ancient cultures.”
The series travels to multiple locations in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Peru and Easter Island to investigate when people first arrived in the “New World” and how they made the journey. “The findings give Graham reason to question the accepted timeline of human history.”
Hancock interviews archaeologists and historians as well as indigenous elders, who share their knowledge of the sites and their oral histories. Hollywood actor, Keanu Reeves, also joins Graham across the series, discussing, among other things, his insights into storytelling as an act of preserving culture.
Experts in the series include American archaeologist Dr. Chris Davis, Brazilian palaeontologist Dr. Alceu Ranzi, and archaeo-botanist Dr. Sonia Cardinali of Rapa Nui, Easter Island, among others.
Graham Hancock said: “Exploring the mysterious origins of civilization has been my passion for many years. The Americas have remained largely unexplored in this context and my purpose in the series was to examine compelling new evidence that I hope might spark healthy debate in the archaeology community.”
Ian Russell, Head of International Programmes, ITN Productions, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Graham again as he explores the theory first outlined in series one. Known as a disrupter who challenges traditional ideas about this period of history, Graham uses his skills as a journalist to talk to experts and indigenous communities to put his theory to the test. The result is a compelling, thought-provoking and beautifully shot series that keeps viewers hooked as scenario Graham puts forward for viewers and experts alike to consider unfolds.”
Bruce Kennedy, Executive Producer, ITN Productions, said: “After the success of the first series, the Americas was the natural focus for series two. Under-investigated by archaeologists, it provided the potential for uncovering new evidence and debate. The discussion of Graham’s theory about the timeline of civilization is enriched by indigenous knowledge and oral histories as well as local experts, while the addition of Keanu Reeves into the discussion adds an engaging dimension.”
Ancient Apocalypse: The Americas is executive produced by Bruce Kennedy and directed by Marc Tiley, for ITN Productions, with post-production led by Ed Bengoa in-house at ITN Post. Ian Russell is the Head of International Programmes at ITN Productions.
Ancient Apocalypse season one ranked in Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV (English) for its premiere week in November 2022.
Jon Creamer
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