SILVER SPRING, Md.– Curiosity Stream is set to premiere De-Extinction, a new original documentary that takes an unflinching look at the science, controversies, and ethical questions surrounding the effort to bring extinct species back to life. The film debuts July 17, arriving just as public attention intensifies around the recent birth of three genetically engineered wolf pups resembling the long-extinct dire wolf.
The documentary follows researchers across the globe—from Australia and Siberia to Germany and the United States—as they push the frontiers of gene editing and synthetic biology. Among the featured scientists are those from Colossal Biosciences, a company at the center of the growing de-extinction movement for its work on the dire wolf and other extinct species.
“Science isn’t magic, and the story is more complex than the headlines suggest,” said John Cavanagh, Executive Producer for Curiosity. “This is an incredible breakthrough. Genetic research has let us understand evolution like never before. De-Extinction captures the potential of this moment, showing how radical science could shape the future of life on Earth. But it’s also a sobering look at what’s at stake.”
The film poses critical questions: Are these engineered animals truly revived species or new creations inspired by extinct ones? What implications does this have for conservation, biodiversity, and the very definition of “extinction”?
De-Extinction offers unprecedented access to cutting-edge labs and leading scientists, unpacking efforts to revive species such as the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, northern white rhino, and the aurochs—the ancient wild ancestor of modern cattle. The documentary not only explores the technical challenges of species revival but also confronts the philosophical and ecological consequences of reversing extinction.
As the Earth faces what many scientists call the sixth mass extinction—with an estimated 150 species disappearing each day—De-Extinction challenges viewers to reconsider whether we’re equipped, ethically or scientifically, to undo nature’s course.
The film premieres exclusively on Curiosity Stream on July 17.
