Marine documentaries to explore animal captivity and activism

New documentary projects are set to explore the history and impact of marine mammal captivity.

Directed by Barney Douglas, the upcoming 90-minute film ‘Freeing Flipper’ focuses on Ric O'Barry. O'Barry, who originally trained dolphins for the 1960s television series Flipper, transitioned into a prominent activist following the death of his primary dolphin, Kathie. The documentary follows his work with the Dolphin Project to advocate for the liberation of captive dolphins.

Separately, Netflix is developing a documentary centered on Keiko, the orca featured in the 1993 film ‘Free Willy’. The film will examine the ambitious and controversial efforts to reintroduce the whale to the wild, a process that began after his conditions in a Mexico City amusement park drew international attention and concluded with his death from pneumonia in 2003.