Nat Geo Teams Up With CNN For “Disaster: The Chernobyl Meltdown” Series
Disney has announced details on a new documentary series called “Disaster: The Chernobyl Meltdown”, which marks the 40th anniversary of the unprecedented tragedy and tells the powerful story of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in four gripping episodes.
Spanning the scope of the catastrophic collapse of the reactor, the Soviets’ calculated cover-up, and the present-day fallout now intersecting with the war in Ukraine, Disaster: The Chernobyl Meltdown reveals a tragedy still reverberating across history. Featuring revealing interviews with survivors speaking publicly for the first time, alongside rare insight into the CIA and Soviet responses, the series exposes a web of secrecy, miscalculation, and human cost. Astonishing new footage from inside the nuclear exclusion zone reveals how this scarred landscape is once again under siege as war encroaches on one of the most dangerous places on Earth.
This documentary series has been co-produced by CNN Original Series, National Geographic EMEA and Windfall Films, with CNN holding the domestic rights to the series, with National Geographic handling European distribution, bringing the project to audiences across the region. While Disney hasn’t confirmed how it will distribute the show across Europe, but I’d expect it to air on the Nat Geo linear channel and hopefully, also on Disney+.
Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals, and creative development for CNN Worldwide, said in a statement regarding the new documentary:
“This series brings new depth to a story many believe they know, driven by firsthand accounts from those who lived through it and remarkable material drawn from newly uncovered archives. It exemplifies CNN Original Series’ ability to revisit defining global events with a fresh perspective for today’s audiences.”
Carolyn Payne, Commissioning Editor for National Geographic, added:
“The production team’s close relationships with local producers allowed us to conduct on-the-ground research, gather powerful eyewitness testimony and capture striking new footage from Chernobyl today. As the home of contemporary history, National Geographic brings audiences fresh depth and perspective on one of the world’s most significant disasters.”
Executive producers for the series are David Dugan, Carlo Massarella, and Tom Cook, Series Producer, for Windfall Films; Carolyn Payne for National Geographic; and Amy Entelis, Lyle Gamm and Katie Hinman for CNN Original Series.
The series will premiere with two episodes on Sunday, 1st March 2026 at 9 pm ET/PT on CNN. The final two episodes will air the following Sunday, 8th March 2026, at 9 pm ET/PT. Episodes will be available to stream on demand the next day for subscribers of CNN’s streaming offering.
Are you going to check out “Disaster: The Chernobyl Meltdown”? Let me know on social media!
