'Rebuilding Paradise': Release date, plot, trailer and all you need to know about Nat Geo documentary on California wildfires

'Rebuilding Paradise' is an unscripted film that chronicles the rebuilding of California following the wreckage from the deadly wildfires
(IMDb)
(IMDb)

The wildfire season of 2018 was the deadliest and most devastating of all wildfires ever recorded in the history of California. It wreaked havoc across the state and caused widespread damage to forests, wildlife, and property. A new National Geographic documentary titled 'Rebuilding Paradise' chronicles the rebuilding of California following the wreckage from the deadly wildfires. Here is everything you need to know about the film.

Release date

'Rebuilding Paradise' is scheduled to be released on July 31, by National Geographic Films, only in select theaters.

Plot

A series of unbridled fires erupted across California, burning an area of 1,893, 913 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the National Interagency Fire Center. The fires began in July, and by August, a national disaster had been declared in Northern California due to excessive wildfires concentrated in that area. In November 2018, strong winds blew across the state, aggravating the condition further and resulting in another large wave of destructive fires. 85 deaths were reported as a result of the disaster, while 50,000 residents were displaced. According to records, the wildfires destroyed more than 18,000 structures. 

(National Geographic / IMDb)

'Rebuilding Paradise' is an unscripted film that documents Paradise, California, attempting to rebuild the town after the devastation. According to Nat Geo, it is a "moving story of resilience in the face of tragedy, as a community ravaged by disaster comes together to recover what was lost and begin the important task of rebuilding." The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020. 

Creator

Ron Howard

Ron Howard of 'Rebuilding Paradise' attends the IMDb Studio at Acura Festival Village on location at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival – Day 1 on January 24, 2020, in Park City, Utah (Getty Images)

Ron Howard is a prolific and award-winning director and a recipient of multiple Academy Awards. He is among the most popular filmmakers of our time. Howard started his career in film as an actor and starred in films like 'The Journey' (1959), 'The Music Man' (1962), 'American Graffiti' (1973) and 'The Shootist' (1976). He is also well known for playing Opie on the television series 'The Andy Griffith Show' (1960), as well as for his appearance in 'Happy Days' (1974). Howard made his directorial debut with the 1978 comedy, 'Grand Theft Auto'. He has some of the most critically acclaimed films under his directorial belt including, 'Cinderella Man' (2005), 'Frost/Nixon' (2008), 'Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas' (2000), 'The Missing' (2003), 'The Da Vinci Code' (2006), 'Angels & Demons' (2009), 'In the Heart of the Sea' (2015), Inferno (2016) and 'The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years' (2016).

Trailer

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