Ken Burns has released a new three-part documentary on Henry David Thoreau, featuring narration by George Clooney and Jeff Goldblum as the voice of the great essayist. The project, which airs on PBS, also includes contributions from Ted Danson, Tate Donovan and Meryl Streep. Each episode runs for an hour.
The documentary originated as a short film initiated by Don Henley, the Eagles frontman, who has long worked to preserve Walden Pond in Massachusetts. Henley approached Burns, who served as executive producer and entrusted the project to brothers Erik and Christopher Loren Ewers. The film grew from a 20-minute piece into a full series as the Ewers discovered the depth of Thoreau's story.
Christopher Ewers said the production reintroduced them to Thoreau beyond the high school image of a prophet who wrote two books. The documentary covers Thoreau's work as a teacher and pencil maker, his complex stance on women's suffrage, and his passionate anti-slavery activism, including support for John Brown. Thoreau died of tuberculosis at age 44 in 1862.
Erik Ewers noted that Jeff Goldblum was their first choice for Thoreau's voice, and Henley secured Clooney for narration and Streep for a role. The film features extensive footage shot at Walden Pond over seven years, capturing all seasons. Christopher Ewers said he became so familiar with the landscape that he named rocks along the trails.
