Legendary Conservationist Jane Goodall’s Life To Be Made Into A Movie; Appian Way Developing For Disney With ‘The Luminaries’ Scribe Eleanor Catton Penning The Screenplay

EXCLUSIVE: Jane Goodall’s early work was memorably committed to film, and now a movie based on the iconic primatologist’s life is in the works.

Goodall, who celebrated her 90th birthday this year, spoke to Deadline about her work and the power of film in a recent interview, and talked about the project, details of which we can now share. She said she has already given notes on an early version of the script, which hails from author and screenwriter Eleanor Catton. Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way is developing the film for Disney.

“They’re making a film about me with an actress,” Goodall said. “I’ve seen the first draft of the script and made a lot of comments.” Goodall has not only given her blessing to the as-yet-unnamed project, but she will act as a producer on the film. Appian Way’s Jennifer Davisson and Michael Hampton will also produce. No news yet on who will play Goodall with the film still in development.

Kiwi novelist and screenwriter Catton is penning the screenplay. She became the youngest winner of the prestigious Booker Prize in 2013 for her second novel, The Luminaries. She adapted that book into a BBC and TVNZ miniseries. She also wrote the screenplay for Emma, the 2020 film adaptation of the Jane Austen classic, which starred Anya Taylor Joy.

Goodall has worked with the Disneynature label, which led to Appian Way and her talking to Disney and it coming on board as the studio for the film. A deal was reached between Disney, Appian and Goodall for her life rights and for Appian and her to produce the film for Disney.

Both Goodall’s life story and conservation work are remarkable. One of the globe’s leading experts on chimpanzees, her pioneering research dates back to the 1960s and challenged what was then a male-dominated scientific establishment.

The late wildlife filmmaker and Dutch nobleman – and Goodall’s former husband – Hugo van Lawick captured many hours of landmark footage of her work with chimpanzees in the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Documentaries have also tracked her life and work, including Brett Morgen’s 2017 feature doc Jane for Nat Geo.

The film of Goodall’s life marks another project that sees the vaunted primatologist team up with DiCaprio’s Appian Way. They are also collaborating on Howl, a live-action feature about an abandoned dog and a wolf’s survival journey during a harsh Canadian winter. Pre-production is underway on that movie. It will be the first film from the Promethean Pictures label.

Goodall and DiCaprio’s respective foundations also have overlapping goals and have worked together. In a social media post wishing her a happy 90th birthday earlier this year, DiCaprio made clear his admiration for Goodall, who he described as a great friend. “Happy birthday Jane and thank you for spreading hope and continuing to make meaningful positive impacts for the planet we share,” he wrote.