Werner Herzog’s latest documentary, Ghost Elephants, has been acquired by National Geographic for a 2026 streaming debut on Disney+ and Hulu, in a deal first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The film follows a modern-day quest for a mysterious elephant herd, blending the director’s classic theme of obsession with a real-world conservation mission.
An analog search: The film tracks National Geographic Explorer Steve Boyes into the Angolan highlands to find a mythical-seeming herd of "ghost elephants." Eschewing modern tech where it has failed, Boyes’ team relies on three KhoiSan master trackers who use trance, memory, and a sacred “Elephant Dance” to navigate the landscape
Chasing the white whale: In a statement, Herzog framed the documentary as an exploration of “dreams, of imagination—weighed against reality.” He described the project’s appeal with a classic literary parallel, saying the mission came at him with the “great urgency” of a hunt for Moby Dick.
The search is part of the broader National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, a conservation effort to protect the vital water source for the region. As Boyes puts it, the elephants are seen as "the key to protecting the waters that give life to the Okavango," turning the film's quest into a story about ecological survival. After a premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where Herzog received a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, the film's acquisition by Nat Geo ensures his vision will reach a global audience. A planned theatrical run before its streaming release signals confidence that the director's signature style still has big-screen appeal.
