Finding Michael, the upcoming British documentary, is a joint production of Shine TV and The Natural Studios, a joint venture with Banijay. The documentary is directed by Tom Beard, whose previous works include the critically acclaimed The Year Earth Changed. The documentary’s executive producers are Jon Swain and Tom Hutchings for Shine TV, and Bear Grylls and Delbert Shoopman for The Natural Studios.
The documentary follows the story of Michael Matthews, who at the age of 22 became the youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest in 1999. Tragically, Michael disappeared just three hours after summiting the mountain and was never found. His brother, Spencer Matthews, who was only ten years old at the time of his brother’s disappearance, has always struggled to come to terms with his brother’s death.
More than 20 years later, Spencer receives a photograph of a body on the mountain that could potentially be Michael’s. Driven by the possibility of finally finding closure, Spencer sets out to Nepal to search Everest’s “Death Zone” alongside Nims Purja, a record holder for climbing all of the world’s 14 peaks. The team faces numerous unexpected challenges as they brave extreme altitudes of over 8,000 meters and rely on a 10-man search crew equipped with drones and the skills to go off the summit lines.
Finding Michael has been met with great anticipation and is set to premiere on Disney+ on Friday, March 3rd, 2023. Its unique storyline and exceptional production quality have drawn considerable attention from film enthusiasts and the public alike. The documentary is expected to be a thought-provoking and emotional journey that delves deep into the human experience of loss and the unyielding power of hope.
Finding Michael
- -In 1999, Michael Matthews became the youngest Briton to summit Mount Everest. But three hours after he reached the top of the world, aged just 22, he disappeared into blinding snow and his body has never been found.
