NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ANNOUNCES MULTIDAY MOVIE EVENT AHEAD OF CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED MILITARY DRAMA "THE LONG ROAD HOME"

Additionally, First Look: The Long Road Home, a 30-Minute Behind-the-Scenes Special, Released Online

Beginning Saturday, Nov. 4, to Tuesday, Nov. 7: Network Premieres "Behind Enemy Lines," "Zero Dark Thirty," "The Hurt Locker" and "Lone Survivor"

Global Event Series The Long Road Home Premieres Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 9/8c With Two Back-to-Back Premiere Episodes; Ensemble Cast Includes Michael Kelly, Jason Ritter, Kate Bosworth, Sarah Wayne Callies, Noel Fisher and Jeremy Sisto

(WASHINGTON, DC - Nov. 2, 2017) National Geographic announces its first-ever multiday movie premieres event scheduled ahead of The Long Road Home, which debuts Nov. 7 at 9/8c. The highly anticipated series, based on internationally acclaimed journalist Martha Raddatz's New York Times best-selling book, tells the story of "Black Sunday," when a small platoon of soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division was ferociously ambushed in Sadr City, Baghdad, in April 2004. To commemorate Veterans Day, as well as the premiere of The Long Road Home, National Geographic's movie event features some of the best military films in recent history, including "Behind Enemy Lines," "Zero Dark Thirty," "The Hurt Locker" and "Lone Survivor."

"National Geographic always has had a longstanding commitment to authentic, military programming with critically acclaimed nonfiction programming like Inside Combat Rescue, Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS and the Oscar(R)-nominated film Restrepo," says Christian Drobnyk, executive vice president of programming, strategy and acquisitions. "The network's first-ever movie premieres event paired with our critically acclaimed The Long Road Home expands on this commitment, acquiring complementary programming that perfectly aligns with our original programming launches."

With unprecedented intimacy, The Long Road Home tells the stories not only of the courageous soldiers but also of their compatriots involved in the three desperate and deadly rescue missions launched to save them. Recently, TV Guide awarded the military drama its highest rating of five stars and proclaimed, "In a season overrun with well-meaning but generic military TV dramas, The Long Road Home stands above the pack as a truly heart-wrenching and often breathtakingly harrowing display of bravery, valor and sacrifice under fire."

The miniseries offers viewers a gripping and intimate look at the toll war takes on soldiers and their families. The adrenaline-fueled and deeply emotional journey follows the action on two fronts: the chaotic and terror-filled streets of Sadr City, and the homefront at Fort Hood, where family members desperately await news of their loved ones. The Long Road Home ensemble cast includes Michael Kelly, Jason Ritter, Kate Bosworth, Sarah Wayne Callies, Noel Fisher and Jeremy Sisto.

Additionally, the network released this week First Look: The Long Road Home, a 30-minute making-of-the-series special, featuring on-set, behind-the-scenes footage and in-depth interviews with the cast, crew and the real-life soldiers and family on which this drama is based. First Look: The Long Road Home underscores the incredible heroism in the wake of Black Sunday and provides a detailed account of how Raddatz and the network bring these extraordinary human stories to life on the screen. Click here to watch the special.

The military movie premieres include:

Behind Enemy Lines Saturday, Nov. 4, at 8/7c Encore Premiere Sunday, Nov. 5, at 5/4c A navy navigator is shot down over enemy territory and is ruthlessly pursued by a secret police enforcer and the opposing troops. Meanwhile, his commanding officer goes against orders in an attempt to rescue him. (Starring Gene Hackman, Owen Wilson and Gabriel Macht; directed by John Moore)

Zero Dark Thirty Sunday, Nov. 5, at 7/6c Encore Premiere Monday, Nov. 6, at 4:30/3:30c Zero Dark Thirty is a chronicle of the decadelong hunt for al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks and his death at the hands of the Navy SEAL Team 6 in May 2011. (Starring Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton and Chris Pratt; directed by Kathryn Bigelow)

The Hurt Locker Monday, Nov. 6, at 8/7c Encore Premiere Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 3:30/2:30c During the Iraq War, a sergeant recently assigned to an Army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work. (Starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty; directed by Kathryn Bigelow)

Lone Survivor Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 6:30/5:30c Marcus Luttrell and his team set out on a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah in late June 2005. Marcus and his team are left to fight for their lives in one of the most valiant efforts of modern warfare. (Starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch and Emile Hirsch; directed by Peter Berg)

The Long Road Home is based on the New York Times best-selling book of the same name by Martha Raddatz and has been adapted by screenwriter Mikko Alanne. The series is executive produced by Mike Medavoy, Alanne, Jason Clark, Benjamin Anderson and Edward McGurn. For National Geographic, Carolyn G. Bernstein is executive vice president and head of global scripted development and production.

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