Leonardo DiCaprio and Netflix teaming up to make documentaries

BEVERLY HILLS , Calif., March 4 (UPI) -- Netflix says it is collaborating with actor, producer and philanthropist Leonardo DiCaprio and his Appian Way production company on upcoming documentary and docu-series projects.

"Working with Netflix on Virunga has sparked a shared vision about projects that we want to develop and bring to viewers," DiCaprio said in a statement Wednesday. "There's never been a more critical time for our planet or more of a need for gifted storytellers to help us all make sense of the issues we face. Through this partnership with Netflix, I hope to give documentary filmmakers doing urgent and important work the chance to have their films seen immediately by audiences all around the world."

"This partnership is a natural extension of our incredible relationship with Leo on Virunga," added Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. "We look forward to building on our shared success with more thought-provoking, high-quality documentaries and docu-series. "

Under the terms of the multi-year deal, Netflix and DiCaprio will work together to identify and develop potential fact-based projects, with a particular focus on environmental and conservation themes. Netflix and DiCaprio first partnered on the acclaimed documentary Virunga, which earned a 2015 Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.