Cable network unveils a wildlife show called Big Game of Thrones (name change forthcoming)
By Dan Selcke
Net Geo Wild, a cable/satellite network and sister station to the National Geographic Channel, is like any other media company. Its executives see something popular, like Game of Thrones, and start thinking about ways to capitalize on it. To that end, the network recently announced a new show during the Television Critics Association Press Tour: Big Game of Thrones.
The show, should it ever actually get out of the gate, will focus on African wildlife, specifically the rivalries between different clans of animals. “When we developed the series, we immediately saw parallels with Game of Thrones,” said Geoff Daniels, the executive VP and general manager at the network. “It is a natural fit for our story of the kings of the savannah fighting for the throne, complete with brutal violence, unexpected deaths, surprising characters and even interfamily romance.”
The Cersei and Jaime of the Savannah.
If there’s a pair of incestuous lions, it would make for a weirdly accurate parallel. But obviously, the network will have to deal with that title before it starts thinking about content. There’s no way HBO would just let Nat Geo Wild lift the title of its most popular show, not for all the elephants in Africa.
That’s something Daniels readily admits. “HBO can tell its lawyers to stand down, a new title is forthcoming,” he said. Big Game of Thrones is apparently a “working title” that stuck to the project in the initial stages of development. Even so, it’s curious that the network deemed the show ready enough to reveal to critics but not ready enough for an official title. Maybe it’s trying to catch a little of Game of Thrones’ residual press before it changes things up?
If so, mission accomplished. Wait to see more of Big Game of Thrones (in no way affiliated with HBO’s Game of Thrones) sometime soon.