Jeremy Renner to narrate Discovery Channel documentary on mosquitos

As many in the world prepare for the warm summer months, Discovery will use its global reach to focus the world’s attention on the single greatest agent of death in modern human history: the mosquito. Discovery Channel will air the documentary Mosquito which examines the global crisis around the deadly insect.

This feature doc from Yap Films Production looks at this tiny, very dangerous creature, and how it is changing in new and unpredictable ways. Narrated by Academy Award nominated actor Jeremy Renner, the film examines the increasing global threat the mosquito poses and the potential deadly ramifications without a worldwide coordinated effort.

The film features interviews with leading experts including former Center for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr Thomas Frieden and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation who makes the case that dealing with mosquitoes should be a global health priority.

The insect kills more than 750,000 people a year. With climate change, and international travel becoming easier for humans and goods, the threat mosquitoes pose has increased as they spread around the world, bringing diseases like Zika, dengue and yellow fever with them.

The documentary, shot on four continents, weaves together expert interviews with stories of the men, women and children who live with the fear that the next mosquito bite could be fatal. Mosquito will have a World Premiere Spotlight Screening at the AFI Docs Film Festival on June 15.

The film premieres under the Discovery Impact banner a series of docs focusing on humanity’s impact on the environment and what individuals and communities can do to solve global problems.

“Mosquito sounds a worldwide alarm about the need for bold steps to address this increasingly urgent threat. As a purpose-driven company, we are proud to leverage the strength of our unmatched television and digital services in all corners of the globe to call on citizens and worldwide leaders alike to act,” said David Zaslav, president and CEO of Discovery Communications, in a statement.

Yap Films Production produced Mosquito for Discovery Channel and was directed by Su Rynard. Executive producers are Elliott Halpern and Elizabeth Trojian with associate producer, Alex Rankin. For Discovery the supervising producer is Jon Bardin and the executive producer is John Hoffman. Mosquito flies onto Discovery Channel and Discovery’s global networks July 6th.