The idea that humans caused this extinction, but human ingenuity can put things right again?
Reed: That is one of the big questions that we should be exploring in the documentary series. That is at the heart of whether you support what Colossal are doing, whether you want de-extinction or whether you think itâs not the right thing to do.
If the prospect of de-extinction inches closer to reality, itâs easy to imagine that it might inspire some backlash. Whether thatâs from legislators or environmental groups, the road to public acceptance might not be totally smooth. Iâve certainly thought about that.
From a narrative point of view, some resistance to de-extinction might be quite exciting.
Reed: If you say so. We have to think in the here and now, but itâs our job to try and imagine what the reactions are going to be. Itâs a difficult one to call. It will depend on whether certain forms of opposition can gather momentum, whether there are certain agendas that may be served by opposition. I think that we will just have to wait and see. But thatâs part of the story.
With works like My Octopus Teacher or Chimp Empire, youâre taking viewers into the animalsâ world. This docuseries must feel different, because labs are human spacesâitâs not a traditional setting for a nature documentary.
Reed: It doesnât feel like an odd choice for us. Itâs a bit disruptive and, in trust, thatâs the sort of thing weâre interested in, and I think thatâs the sort of thing people need and the industry needs.
People need something more from nature documentaries?
Reed: I think so. We’re in a period where you could keep looking at the natural world in the same way, or we can look at something in a completely different way. And even if itâs not for everybody, it just makes us look at something in a different way, and that can only be good.
I suppose any documentary on de-extinction is about the natural world, but itâs also one where human intervention is totally central. Itâs a different way of relating to nature.
Reed: Exactly. Itâs intervention, isnât it? Itâs assuming a different role. Itâs an active way of addressing arguably some of the same challenges. Whether itâs right or wrong, or whether people get behind it or they donât is going to be really interesting, but I think for us, itâs that alternative way of doing things that is going to be the exciting thing to document.
If Colossal is successful at gene-editing Asian elephants to create a mammoth-like creature, then thereâs a good chance you might be present at a pretty remarkable moment in the history of conservation.
Reed: Absolutely. There are lots of practical things to think about, like how to make a TV program out of this. But I think all of us on the team, however open-minded and objective we are about what it means, there is of course some personal excitement that something thatâs never happened before is going to happen. And that we have the privilege of being there and being able to document it.