Nat Geo Unveils ‘Erased: WWII’s Heroes of Color’ Trailer Starring Idris Elba, Alongside ‘The Real Red Tails’ Premiere
Continuing its 136-year legacy of providing viewers access to pivotal historical moments with new breadth and insight, National Geographic will pay tribute to the contributions and sacrifices of soldiers of color with two new specials on Monday, June 3. with “ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR,” a four-part docuseries executive produced and narrated by Idris Elba, which will premiere, while “THE REAL RED TAILS,” a one-hour documentary narrated by Sheryl Lee Ralph, will kick off the evening. Both specials will be available for streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Produced by October Films and Elba’s 22Summers, “ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR” uncovers the long-lost legacies of soldiers of color during World War II, shedding light on the immense contributions of over eight million individuals who fought heroically for the Allied forces, whose stories have largely gone untold.
The four-part series weaves historical dramatizations with curated archival footage, bridging the past with the present to highlight new perspectives on established histories. It showcases the personal narratives of soldiers through their never-before-aired oral testimonies and journal writings, along with powerful accounts from their descendants—stories passed down the generations. These gripping and emotional testimonies transport viewers back in time to witness bravery unfold in WW2’s iconic theaters of war.
Each episode focuses on at least three extraordinary heroes, from a 16-year-old New Yorker to an aristocrat from India:
- “PEARL HARBOR”: Premieres June 3 at 9/8c on Nat Geo, Streams June 4 on Disney+ and Hulu.
- “D-DAY”: Premieres June 3 at 10/9c on Nat Geo, Streams June 4 on Disney+ and Hulu.
- “DUNKIRK”: Premieres June 10 at 9/8c on Nat Geo, Streams June 4 on Disney+ and Hulu.
- “BATTLE OF THE BULGE”: Premieres June 10 at 10/9c on Nat Geo Streams June 4 on Disney+ and Hulu.
Looking beyond the battlefield, “ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR” reveals the profound link between the soldiers’ wartime struggles and the rise of post-war-inspired movements for freedom worldwide.
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“ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR” is produced by October Films and 22Summers. For October Films, Johanna Woolford Gibbon, Jos Cushing, Matt Robins, and Chris Muckle are executive producers. Sam Pollard is consulting exec producer; Annabel Hobley is co-executive producer. For 22Summers, Idris Elba, Jamilla Dumbuya, and Khaled Gad are executive producers. For National Geographic, Sean D. Johnson and Simon Raikes are executive producers. Charlie Parsons is senior vice president, Development, and Tom McDonald is executive vice president, Global Factual and Unscripted Content.
“THE REAL RED TAILS” tells of the astonishing discovery of a P-39 airplane in Lake Huron, Michigan, reigniting a story lost to time and triggering one of the most important WW2 archeological missions in the Great Lakes. The one-hour special, narrated by Ralph, uncovers the 80-year-old mystery of how and why Moody’s plane ultimately went down, with teams of underwater archaeologists recovering parts of the downed plane for the first time. The special weaves in firsthand accounts from fellow airmen along with underwater footage from the wreck to give a final answer to the mystery.
“THE REAL RED TAILS” is produced by National Geographic’s Yellow Border Production Services with Erin M. Reuss as producer, Jeanine I. Butler as executive producer, and Anna Derryberry as director of production. Melanie Sams is vice president of Production and Development for National Geographic.
