nWave Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to Atlantic Productions’ Penguins 3D (working title) written and narrated by David Attenborough.

The documentary will open in the US on May 24 Memorial Day and comes in 40- and 20-minute versions, 3D and 2D, 15-perf./70-mm and digital in 4K and 2K.

nWave, which has a long-term partnership with StudioCanal, will make Penguins 3D exclusively for exhibition at IMAX theatres, RealD and digital 3D large-screen cinemas.  

The film shot in 4K 3D over five months on the southern Atlantic Ocean island of South Georgia known as Penguin City. The story charts the fortunes of a young male King Penguin who returns to the place where he was born. The entire production lasted 14 months.

“To be at the cutting edge, when you know that you’re doing something that no-one has done before, is exciting and a great privilege,” said Attenborough. “While this island may be remote, it is far from barren. It bears witness to some of the most spectacular sights in the natural world, including giant birds such as the albatross and one of the world’s largest gatherings of King Penguins.”

Penguins 3D was produced by Atlantic Productions in association with the UK’s BSkyB and US-based Galileo Digital Entertainment.

The industry premiere will take place in March during the Giant Screen Cinema Association 2013 Film Expo in Galveston, Texas.