COL Group’s FlareFlow and Singapore-based Bomanbridge Media announced a premium vertical-format documentary series titled “Mapogo: The Lion Throne” this week [1].

The project marks a significant shift in wildlife cinematography by adapting high-end nature storytelling for vertical screens, targeting the consumption habits of mobile-first audiences worldwide.

Announced at Owl&Co’s Vertical Media Summit in Los Angeles, the series focuses on the Mapogo lion coalition [1]. The production chronicles the brutal rise and tragic fall of the coalition, with footage captured at South Africa’s Sabi Sands Game Reserve [1], [2].

Production of the series took place over several years [2]. By utilizing a vertical storytelling format, the creators aim to bring an immersive experience to viewers in more than 200 countries [1]. The series is scheduled to launch in late Q3 2026 [1].

The partnership between FlareFlow and Bomanbridge Media combines technical vertical-media expertise with traditional wildlife documentary production. This collaboration seeks to bridge the gap between short-form social media content and long-form cinematic narratives, providing a high-production value alternative to amateur vertical clips.

Filming at the Sabi Sands Game Reserve allowed the team to document the specific territorial struggles of the Mapogo lions in their natural habitat. The resulting series will be distributed globally, leveraging FlareFlow's infrastructure to reach a diverse international audience [1], [3].

“The project marks a significant shift in wildlife cinematography by adapting high-end nature storytelling for vertical screens.”

The move toward premium vertical documentaries reflects the industry's adaptation to the dominance of mobile devices. By investing in high-production wildlife content specifically for vertical formats, media companies are attempting to capture a younger demographic that prefers smartphones over traditional television, potentially redefining how educational and scientific content is distributed globally.