Leonardo DiCaprio signs up with Netflix

Leonardo DiCaprio has struck a deal to make original environmental and conservation docs for Netflix.

The Hollywood star’s prodco, Appian Way, will produce the upcoming series under the terms of a first-look deal with the SVOD service.

DiCaprio will produce and exec produce the resulting docs. He has previously worked with Netflix on Virunga, the Acadamy Award-nominated feature doc about park rangers in the in the titular national park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. DTVE sister title TBI was the first to report Netflix had taken rights to the doc last July.

“Working with Netflix on Virunga has sparked a shared vision about projects that we want to develop and bring to viewers,” said DiCaprio. “There’s never been a more critical time for our planet or more of a need for gifted storytellers to help us all make sense of the issues we face. Through this partnership with Netflix, I hope to give documentary filmmakers doing urgent and important work the chance to have their films seen immediately by audiences all around the world.”

“This partnership is a natural extension of our incredible relationship with Leo on Virunga,” added Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “We look forward to building on our shared success with more thought-provoking, high-quality documentaries and docu-series. ”

Separately Netflix has ordered a new original series, The OA, starring Brit Marling, to be directed by Zal Batmanglij (The Sound of My Voice).

Marling and Batmanglij will co-write The OA, details of which have not been revealed. Eight hour-long episodes of the series will premiere exclusively across all Netflix territories in 2016.

“We are thrilled to be the home of the first  television series Brit and Zal create together,” said Cindy Holland, vice-president of original content at Netflix. “Whether in front of or behind the camera, or both, their creative voice is always uniquely captivating.”