the project

predators: Lion narrated by Tom Hardy

Netflix | Sky Nature

Fighting to protect their kingdoms in the wild, five predators are faced with unique obstacles and challenges in what is undoubtedly the ultimate power struggle to maintain their rule in the natural world. Directed by Anne Sommerfield, ‘Lion’ follows the Matata Pride’s extraordinary fight for survival, capturing the intimacy, jeopardy and drama of family life.

#7

Ranked global Netflix series

2.9M

iews in week one

10M

Total Netflix views

7.7/10

Rating - Lion episode - IMDB

“A fascinating look at the natural world that manages to be both informative and thoroughly engaging.”

- The Upcoming ★★★★★

Highlights

Narrated by Tom Hardy, Predators is a landmark five-part natural history series following five apex predators across some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes — from lions in Botswana and cheetahs in Tanzania to polar bears in Canada, pumas in Patagonia and wild dogs in Zimbabwe.The series combines intimate, character-led storytelling with spectacular natural history, revealing these formidable hunters not only as predators, but as parents and survivors. Each film follows its subjects through a critical moment as changing environments, competition and increasingly extreme conditions threaten the future of the next generation.

Produced by True to Nature and Sky Studios, Predators marked Sky’s first co-production with Netflix, taking the series from its original Sky Nature release to an international streaming audience.

The series was warmly received for its cinematic photography and dramatic storytelling. The Guardian awarded it 4 stars, while The Upcoming gave it 5 stars, praising its camerawork, editing and storytelling. The series also received a BAFTA Television Craft Award nomination for Photography: Factual.

“A gripping narrative, a heart-racing pace, and superlative photography.”

— Common Sense Media ★★★★☆

production

The episode Lion, directed by Anne Sommerfield, was filmed over more than a year with the Matata Pride in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The extended shoot allowed the story to be discovered in the field, following individual characters and relationships as the pride’s fortunes changed.Rather than building the film around a conventional predator narrative, the storytelling developed around the social dynamics of the pride. Nikki, a young lioness helping to protect ten cubs, emerged as its central character, providing an emotional through-line as the family faced an increasingly unpredictable landscape.

Working at this scale required patience and close collaboration in the field. By learning the lions’ territories, behaviours and relationships, the team could anticipate developing stories while remaining responsive to unexpected events — from wildfire and seasonal floods to rival prides and shifting alliances.

This long-form observational approach captured behaviour that went beyond hunting and spectacle. Moments of motherhood, play, conflict and loss became as important as the larger action sequences, revealing the individual personalities behind the pride.

In the edit, these interwoven storylines became an intimate family drama, using character and evolving relationships to bring audiences closer to the lions and give emotional weight to the wider story of survival in a changing environment.