The passing of beloved conservationist Jane Goodall on Wednesday set off a frantic 48-hour rush for a dedicated team at Netflix. They were tasked with finalizing a groundbreaking new series, years in the making, set to premiere with her posthumous interview.
Just two days later, Netflix quietly launched the inaugural episode of ‘Famous Last Words,’ a unique series featuring late-life interviews with renowned public figures. The twist? These deeply personal conversations, including the identities of the interviewees, are kept under strict wraps until after their passing. Goodall’s powerful interview, recorded back in March, was among several already awaiting release in a secure Netflix vault. Her death simply marked the moment for her episode to be unveiled.
In the 55-minute premiere episode, reviewed recently, Goodall – celebrated worldwide for her pioneering research into chimpanzee life – delivers a frank and at times ‘dark’ critique of the current global state. She doesn’t hold back, offering pointed commentary on various world leaders, including former President Trump.
Yet, throughout her interview, Goodall, who passed away at 91, reaffirms her unwavering belief that she was destined to fulfill a specific mission. Her parting message to the world is one of enduring hope.
“If you want to save what is still beautiful in this world,” she says in the episode, which was edited down from roughly four hours of footage, “then think about the actions you take each day.”
“Don’t give up,” she adds. “There is a future for you.”
The concept for ‘Famous Last Words’ hails from the critically acclaimed Danish television series, ‘Det Sidste Ord’ (‘The Last Word’), which captivated audiences upon its 2020 debut. Netflix secured the rights to adapt this unique format for international audiences. Interestingly, a similar video series titled ‘The Last Word’ was launched by The New York Times in 2006, though production has since ceased. Its most recent public interview was with Representative Carolyn McCarthy of New York in June, with some interviews remaining unreleased.
Brad Falchuk, the executive producer of ‘Famous Last Words’ and the interviewer himself, first discussed the series earlier this year. He revealed that he had been developing the show for over two years, with Netflix already having four episodes prepared for release and another four in active production. The subjects of these upcoming episodes remain a closely guarded secret by both Netflix and Falchuk.
Falchuk shared one profound insight gleaned from his interviews thus far:
“Nobody says, Wow, I really should have spent more time at work.”
The Series’ Danish Roots
Mikael Bertelsen, the visionary TV and radio host behind the original Danish series, recounts that the idea for ‘Det Sidste Ord’ sparked several years prior, following the sudden death of a comedian he had interviewed. Notably, neither Bertelsen nor Falchuk were aware of The New York Times’ similar series until the Danish show’s format had already been acquired by Netflix.
Later, at an event at the Royal Danish Library, the library’s director voiced frustration that contemporary television interviews lacked the depth suitable for cultural preservation. This conversation prompted Bertelsen to consider creating something more enduring.
“That made me want to start up,” Bertelsen revealed in a July interview. He candidly admitted, however, that it took him “eight years to get somebody to believe the idea.”
Mikkel Bondesen, Falchuk’s producing partner, was instantly captivated by ‘Det Sidste Ord.’ He reached out to Bertelsen, ultimately leading Bondesen and Falchuk to pitch the concept to Netflix. Today, both Bondesen and Falchuk serve as executive producers for the Netflix adaptation, with Bertelsen contributing as a consultant.
“I had never seen something that was so opposite of TV,” Bondesen explained. “No cutaways to clips. No photos. Just two people in a room talking.”
The Netflix series closely mirrors its Danish predecessor in concept. The interviews are filmed on a soundstage with remotely operated cameras, ensuring only the subject and interviewer are present. Even the control room crew operates without earpieces, unable to overhear the private conversations.
Falchuk adopts a unique approach, framing some of his questions in the past tense. He gently reminds subjects, he shared, that “they are dead.”
Crossing the Threshold into Death
From the outset, Falchuk insisted on conducting the interviews himself. This hands-on approach keeps the production circle small and ensures the interviewee remains the central focus. As Gwyneth Paltrow’s husband, he confidently states his understanding of why famous individuals often ‘lock up’ and how to encourage them to open up. Prior to this, Falchuk’s career primarily involved scripted television, co-creating hit series like ‘American Horror Story,’ ‘Pose,’ and ‘9-1-1’ with Ryan Murphy.
Falchuk envisions the series as an opportunity for viewers to reconnect with cherished public figures. ‘The idea of this show is, we’re giving you just an extra hour,’ he explained.
He emphasizes that ‘Famous Last Words’ is ‘not transactional.’ Its purpose is not ‘to get them to say some secret about their lives that’s a big front-page New York Post story.’
“It’s a service to these people to deliver their last words,” Falchuk elaborated. “We’re almost bringing them across the threshold into death. If they don’t want to talk about something, we don’t talk about it.”
Netflix utilizes both a dedicated studio in Los Angeles and a mobile studio that can travel, a practical consideration given that many interview subjects are in their 90s, according to Brandon Riegg, head of nonfiction programming for the streaming service.
While the Danish original employed Eames chairs on a raised platform, with a stark palette of whites, grays, and blacks, the Netflix adaptation opts for a warmer aesthetic, favoring reds and browns. Falchuk describes it as needing to ‘look like an in-between space between life and death,’ aiming for an ‘ethereal’ feel.
Mirroring the Danish version’s archival approach with the Royal Danish Library, Netflix’s interviews are preserved by the esteemed John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Goodall’s Powerful Conclusion
For her interview, Goodall brought along Mr. H., a treasured stuffed monkey she had owned for 34 years. Upon settling into her seat, she took a sip of whiskey, which she continued to enjoy throughout the entire conversation.
During the conversation, Falchuk acknowledged the widespread admiration for Goodall and her lifelong, measured efforts to protect the planet. He then gently pressed her on a more personal note: ‘Whom is the fight against, exactly? Whom does she dislike?’
“Absolutely there are people I don’t like, and I would like to put them on one of Musk’s spaceships and send them all off to the planet he’s sure he’s going to discover,” Goodall declared, with a pointed reference to Elon Musk. She then added, “He’d be the host” of this particular gathering, specifying that her guest list would include former President Trump, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, President Xi Jinping of China, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.
“Put them all on that spaceship,” she concluded, “and send them off.”
The theme of death is openly explored, with Goodall recounting the profound grief a chimpanzee close to her experienced after losing its mother. She shared her own hopes for the afterlife, expressing a desire to be reunited with her mother, her childhood dog, and her beloved chimpanzee companion, David Greybeard.
For Goodall’s powerful concluding statement, Falchuk exited the set, allowing her to speak directly and intimately to the camera.
“I want to make sure that you all understand that each and every one of you has a role to play,” she stated. “You may not know it, you may not find it, but your life matters, and you are here for a reason.”