Two-Time Golden Globe® Nominee Ewan McGregor Will Narrate "Humpback Whales" A New Underwater Adventure Documentary By MacGillivray Freeman Films, Presented By Pacific Life

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MacGillivray Freeman Films (MFF) today announced that two-time Golden Globe^® nominee, Ewan McGregor, will narrate Humpback Whales, an underwater 3D adventure documentary for IMAX and other giant-screen theaters directed by two-time Academy Award^®-nominated filmmaker Greg MacGillivray (The Living Sea, Dolphins, Everest). The film, presented in association with Pacific Life, will be released beginning February 13^th, 2015.

Legendary documentary filmmakers, MacGillivray Freeman Films, bring their exhilarating giant-screen storytelling to one of the most enormous and vastly fascinating creatures on earth in Humpback Whales – an immersive ocean adventure that invites audiences to dive first-hand into the mysterious realm of these 55-foot, 50-ton aquatic mammals. In a splashing, gliding, musical mix of 3D imagery, underwater splendor and scientific exploration, the film asks the compelling question: what might life be like from a humpback's point of view.  Once feared as monsters, and very nearly hunted to extinction, today humpbacks are in the midst of a slow but remarkable recovery.

Humpback Whales marks the prolific large-format film company's first entertainment-focused film exclusively on whales. The MacGillivray Freeman Films team took it as an occasion to apply all of their cumulative cinematic experience to the telling of one of the most compelling wildlife stories of our time: how humpbacks were brought back from the brink of destruction to set off a new wave of scientific discovery and human fascination with their one-of-a-kind, gargantuan beauty.

"We are thrilled to have Ewan McGregor narrate Humpback Whales," says Director Greg MacGillivray.  "He is a tremendous talent and his passionate narration will help to bring the audience on this incredible immersive journey with these complex and astounding creatures.  We hope the film excites and inspires people to better understand the humpback whale, as this mammal is critical to the ecological health and survival of the ocean."

"We are proud to be part of bringing this film to life and helping to educate the public about these truly amazing animals," said Tennyson Oyler, Vice President of Brand Management & Public Affairs for Pacific Life.  "Our partnership with Humpback Whales helps showcase that the whale is more than just a company logo for us. It demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the future."

Often hailed as one of the finest actors of his generation, Ewan McGregor consistently captivates audiences with a diverse line-up of roles across a multitude of genres, styles and scope. From his breakthrough role as the heroin-addicted Mark Renton in Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting, to the legendary "Obi-Wan Kenobi" in Star Wars Episode I: The Phanton Menace, to starring as "Christian" opposite Nicole Kidman in the Oscar and BAFTA award-winning musical Moulin Rouge, McGregor's career has been highlighted by a continuous string of bold and daring performances. McGregor can currently be seen on stage, making his Broadway debut as "Henry" in Tom Stoppard's Tony® Award-winning play "The Real Thing," directed by Sam Gold, opposite Maggie Gyllenhaal. The play opened on October 30, 2014 and will run until January 4^th, 2015 at the American Airlines Theatre in New York.

McGregor's upcoming film roles include Mortdecai the film adaptation of Kyril Bonfiglioli's book "The Great Mortdecai Moustache Mystery," opposite Johnny Depp. Lionsgate is set to release the film on January 23^rd, 2015. He is upcoming in Rodrigo Garcia's Last Days in the Desert which is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January. He will also star in Gavin O'Connor's Jane Got a Gun, out September 4, 2015, where he plays the leader of an outlaw gang. The film also stars Natalie Portman and Joel Edgerton. Among McGregor's additional upcoming film roles are the action crime-drama Son of a Gun where he plays a notorious criminal who has escaped from prison, and the political thriller Our Kind of Traitor opposite Stellan Skarsgard as well as Don Cheadle's Miles Davis biopic. McGregor is a devoted and influential philanthropist, and serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF UK, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.

About Humpback Whales
A MacGillivray Freeman film presented by Pacific Life, Humpback Whales is directed by Greg MacGillivray (The Living Sea, Dolphins, Everest) and produced by Shaun MacGillivray (To The Arctic, Grand Canyon Adventure). Filmed with 15perf / 65mm IMAX^® cameras, Humpback Whales is written and edited by Stephen Judson (Everest, To The Arctic) with a musical score by Steve Wood (Journey to the South Pacific, To The Arctic). www.humpbackwhalesfilm.com

About MacGillivray Freeman Films
MacGillivray Freeman Films is the world's foremost independent producer and distributor of giant-screen 70mm films with 38 giant-screen films to its credit. Throughout the company's 50-year history, its films have won numerous international awards including two Academy Award^® nominations and three films inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame. MacGillivray Freeman's films are known for their artistry and celebration of science and the natural world. It is the first documentary film company to reach the one billion dollar benchmark for worldwide box office. www.macgillivrayfreemanfilms.com.

About Pacific Life
Offering insurance since 1868, Pacific Life provides a wide range of life insurance products, annuities, and mutual funds, and offers a variety of investment products and services to individuals, businesses, and pension plans. Pacific Life counts more than half of the 100 largest U.S. companies as its clients. For additional company information, including current financial strength ratings, visit www.PacificLife.com.  Pacific Life refers to Pacific Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, including Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Client count as of June 2014 is compiled by Pacific Life using the 2014 FORTUNE 500^® list.

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SOURCE MacGillivray Freeman Films