ZDF Studios has taken international distribution rights to Season 4 of premium factual series “Ancient Superstructures,” a new run that will prominently feature Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia as it heads toward a milestone moment this June.
Produced by Pernel Media in association with RMC Découverte, Histoire, SBS and ZDF Studios, the new season is currently in production and slated for completion this spring.
ZDF Studios has secured rights across worldwide markets excluding French-speaking territories and Australia.
“Ancient Superstructures” has carved out a distinctive niche in the landmarks-and-history space by pairing high-end CGI with scientific investigation, using a multi-scale approach — from satellite imagery to microscopic analysis — to decode the engineering behind some of the world’s most iconic monuments.
Season 4’s itinerary spans multiple territories and eras, with episodes dedicated to Greece’s Acropolis of Athens, Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle, and France’s Pierrefonds Castle and the medieval city of Carcassonne.
The marquee installment, however, centers on the Sagrada Familia, where the production has been granted exclusive access to film the placing of the final stone on the basilica’s main structure — positioned by the producers as a historic TV moment.
The June milestone coincides with the centenary of architect Antoni Gaudí’s death and the official inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ.
Topping out at 172.5 meters (565.9 feet), the basilica is set to become the tallest church in the world. While the main structure and its 18 towers are scheduled for completion in 2026, additional decorative work on the Glory Façade is expected to continue through 2034, giving the season a time-stamped, front-row view of one of Europe’s most ambitious long-term builds.
“This franchise has consistently set the gold standard for factual programming by blending high-end CGI with rigorous scientific investigation,” said Nikolas Huelbusch, director of unscripted at ZDF Studios. “Being able to capture the historic completion of the Sagrada Família — a project 144 years in the making — is a testament to the series’ relevance,” he added.
“Our mission has always been to reveal the ‘invisible’ secrets of these marvels through cutting-edge technology. With Season 4, we are taking this to a new level,” said Pernel Media executive producer Fabrice Frank.
Pernel Media founder and CEO Samuel Kissous added: “This franchise reflects exactly the kind of premium, internationally resonant programming Pernel is committed to producing.”
The deal underscores ZDF Studios’ role as a global distributor and co-production partner within the commercial arm of German public broadcaster ZDF, while France- and U.K.-based Pernel Media continues to scale an international slate spanning premium factual alongside a growing English-language scripted pipeline.
variety.com
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