Nat Geo and C4 pre-buy Dash docs

National Geographic and Channel 4 have both acquired documentaries from UK indie Dash Pictures.

Six-part Genghis Khan: The Secret History of the Mongols is made in association with Nat Geo and charts the history of the Mongolian Empire from its pre-history under Khan’s father Yesügei, Khan’s adoption of his famous moniker and his union of warring tribes, to the empire’s fracture in 1294 under his grandson.

Nat Geo has also picked up fellow six-part history doc What Really Happened: American Independence, marking the 250^th anniversary of US independence. The doc is a follow up to Dash’s Emmy-nominated Frontier. The series will highlight the bigger names involved in the Declaration of Independence, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and King George, as well as lesser-known figures, and forgotten revolutionaries, including Native Americans, enslaved African Americans and women of all social classes. Sphere Abacus is handling global sales for both series.

Elsewhere, C4 has pre-bought four parter Great Estates From Above for More 4. Using drone and aerial technology, each episode takes on one of Britain’s impressive estates: Blenheim Palace, Castle Howard, Burghley House and Penshurst Place.

Viewers will meet the passionate people who keep these buildings and grounds open to the public, as well as seeing essential winter renovations and the conservation projects taking place in each spot. Boat Rocker is handling worldwide distribution.

Dash is also in pre-production on two, two-part series focusing on the US mob’s relationship with two of the 20^th century’s biggest stars: Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. Both will feature expert interviews, cutting-edge graphics and archive footage and are produced in association with Sphere Abacus, who will also handle worldwide sales.

Elvis & The Mob – The King and the Underworld questions whether Presley’s sudden death was as simple as it appeared. The mob, which was in control of Las Vegas, used Presley’s fame to attract high-rollers and launder money through its casinos and the star’s manager Colonel Tom Parker kept him locked into mob-run venues. The series examines the intersection of Presley’s stardom and Vegas’ criminal underworld, how the Mafia profited from him and how Parker’s deals may have sealed Presley’s fate.

Marilyn & The Mob examines the final weeks of the icon’s life. Beneath the glamour of being a global star was the dark reality of her manipulation by criminal organisations across the US entertainment business. The title investigates her relationships with mobsters and US presidents alike, and uncovers how Monroe was used, abused and ultimately lost in a game of power, politics and betrayal and the series poses the question if she knew too much to stay alive.

Daniel Sharp, founder and executive producer of Dash Pictures, said: “Viewers around the world continue to seek out the very best in documentary programming across many diverse and dynamic subjects.

“At Dash we are able to unite leading teams of researchers, writers and experts to create prestige factual programming that successfully combines broad appeal and high production values that our broadcast partners know works for them and their audiences.”