Genghis Khan: The Secret History of the Mongols (6 x 1 hour), produced in association with National Geographic, charts the history of the Mongolian Empire from its pre-history under Khan’s father Yesügei; its early beginnings as the young man called Temüjin takes up the name Genghis Khan and unites warring tribes; its colossal rise as it cuts it way across the world; through to 1294, when the empire starts to fracture under Genghis Khan’s grandson Kublai Khan. This thrilling series brings to life the story of the Great Khans, recreating the bloody battles and globe-spanning adventures that shaped the greatest empire known to mankind, and tells the story of the most dramatic conquests in history and how it was driven by one man and his heirs.
What Really Happened: American Independence is a 6-part breathtaking series for the 250th anniversary of 1776 – the true story of American Independence, a follow up from the Emmy nominated Frontier. The American Revolution was bigger and bloodier than you ever thought. For this monumental anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we bring you the undiscovered stories, heroes and villains of the American War for Independence. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and King George share the screen with a diverse cast of forgotten revolutionaries, including Native Americans, enslaved African Americans, German mercenaries, French aristocrats, British Loyalists and women of all social classes, each in a quest to define what American independence would mean for them and their world.
Both series are being distributed by Sphere Abacus.
Great Estates From Above is a 4-part cutting-edge series, pre-bought by Channel 4’s free-to-air More4 in the UK. Using state-of-the-art drone and aerial photography, each episode reveals a brand-new perspective of four of Britain’s historic and most impressive estates: Blenheim Palace, Castle Howard, Burghley House and Penshurst Place. From sleepy winter gardens and essential winter renovations, we meet the unique individuals whose passion it is to keep these buildings and grounds open to the public for years to come. We capture these houses, their formal gardens and wider grounds in extraordinary detail as drones roam above the sprawling estates, examining their unique features and architectural prowess, whilst uncovering their historic stories and the current projects conserving and restoring these wonderful buildings and the landscape that surrounds them.
Boat Rocker are handling worldwide sales for Great Estates From Above.
Currently in pre-production, Dash Pictures’ slate also includes two hard-hitting factual series focusing on The Mob in the US, featuring expert interviews, high-end graphics and archive footage to tell these two incredible stories.
Elvis & The Mob – The King and the Underworld poses the question: was Elvis Presley’s shocking death truly as simple as it seemed. Years before, having built and controlled Las Vegas, The Mob used Elvis’ fame to attract high-rollers and launder money through its casino empires. Elvis’ notoriously controlling manager, Colonel Tom Parker, kept Elvis locked into Mob-run venues. This two-part series explores the intersection of Elvis’s superstardom and the criminal empire of Las Vegas, exposing how the Mafia profited from the King, and how Parker’s deals may have sealed Elvis’s fate.
Marilyn & The Mob takes a deep dive into the final weeks of her life. A young Marilyn Monroe had become one of the biggest stars in the world by the 60’s, but beneath the glamour was the dark reality of The Mob’s intense manipulation across the US entertainment business. This two-part series investigates her relationships with mobsters and Presidents alike, and uncovers how Marilyn was used, abused and ultimately lost in a game of power, politics and betrayal. As the worlds of celebrity, criminality and politics entwined, did Marilyn know too much to stay alive?
The Mob documentaries are produced in association with Sphere Abacus, who will also handle worldwide sales.
Daniel Sharp, Founder and Executive Producer, Dash Pictures comments “Viewers around the world continue to seek out the very best in documentary programming across many diverse and dynamic subjects. At Dash we are able to unite leading teams of researchers, writers and experts to create prestige factual programming that successfully combines broad appeal and high production values that our broadcast partners know works for them and their audiences.”