Netflix Bolsters History Slate With Josh Brolin-Narrated WWII Series & New ‘Turning Point’ Doc

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix is getting further into history with two new documentary projects.

The streamer has greenlit a World War II docuseries narrated by Josh Brolin and is expanding its Turning Point strand with a post-9/11 feature doc.

World War II: Behind Enemy Lines is narrated by Weapons star Brolin and comes from 72 Films, the company behind World War II: From the Frontlines, which won two Emmys in 2024.

The four-part series, which will premiere later this year in the winter, tells the story of the 101st Airborne’s invasion of Europe, from D-Day to V-Day, using colorized and previously unseen archival footage.

It is exec produced by David Glover and Mark Raphael, who founded the Fremantle-backed producer, which is behind BBC docs The Elon Musk Show and Michael Jackson: An American Tragedy.

Netflix is also launching Turning Point Generation 9/11, which comes from director Brian Knappenberger, who is behind the Turning Point strand, which has previously focused on the Vietnam War, the Cold War and 9/11.

Turning Point: Generation 9/11, which will premiere on September 2, explores how a single day shaped the next generation. From children who lost their parents in the attacks to journalists who cut their teeth on the original War on Terror to young Afghans and Marines forced to deal with the fallout of America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan – their gripping stories reveal that the legacy of 9/11 is measured not only by history, but by the lives it continues to shape.

The feature doc is produced by Knappenberger’s Luminant and he exec produces alongside Clare Tucker, Jennifer Janisch, Alison Klayman and Sarah Huisenga.

It comes after Netflix launched Knappenberger-directed The American Experiment, a five-part series, exec produced by Tom Hanks, that explores the origins, struggles, and future of American democracy as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. It also recently launched the America 250th Collection, a curated slate of documentaries, scripted films, and series offering entry points into American history through sports, culture, and beyond.

“History isn’t just something that happened, it shapes who we are and how we see the world. As the nation celebrated its 250th anniversary, that’s never felt more true,” said Adam Del Deo, VP of Documentary. “Our work with Brian Knappenberger across the Turning Point series and The American Experiment has shown us that audiences are hungry for storytelling that takes history further, putting consequential events into a larger context. With Turning Point: Generation 9/11 and WWII: Behind Enemy Lines, that tradition continues.”