If you thought the recent Joel McHale-hosted reunion episode was the last you'd seen of Tiger King, think again. Investigation Discovery has announced an unofficial follow-up to the hit Netflix docuseries called Investigating the Strange World of Joe Exotic. The project teases never-before-seen footage from the world of Exotic (real name: Joseph Maldonado-Passage) and promises a deep-dive into the disappearance of Carole Baskin's husband Don Lewis, an investigation that's ongoing. Below, everything we know about the new show.
What will the new series cover?
In a statement published by Variety, ID said the show will center on "the investigation you didn’t get to see, revealing the secrets only Joe knows, the exclusive footage that has never been shown, and the search to answer the one question every person in America is asking themselves right now: although she’s denied it, is Carole Baskin responsible for the disappearance of her husband, Don Lewis?"
Rumors surrounding the vanishing of Baskin's husband have captured the attention of viewers since Tiger King dropped on March 20. There's been so much renewed interest in the unsolved mystery that a Florida sheriff has asked for new tips for the case via Twitter.
Which members of the original Tiger King cast will be involved?
None of the OG G.W. Zoo employees have signed on to the sequel series. It's unlikely that Baskin or Doc Antle would participate, as both voiced negative reactions to the Netflix series and declined to appear in the recent reunion episode.
Baskin blogged about the show on her website, calling it "salacious and sensational." She also addressed renewed accusations that she killed Lewis, writing, "[Tiger King] has a segment devoted to suggesting, with lies and innuendos from people who are not credible, that I had a role in the disappearance of my husband Don 21 years ago. The series presents this without any regard for the truth or in most cases even giving me an opportunity before publication to rebut the absurd claims. They did not care about truth. The unsavory lies are better for getting viewers."
According to Variety, Theresa McKeown and Colin Whelan will serve as executive producers for the ID series. Henry Schleiff, group president of ID, said in a statement:
“Viewers are understandably riveted by Netflix’s Tiger King, but the millions of true crime fans around the world were left wanting more. ID is the perfect place to find the inevitable sequel to this drama—featuring a missing husband, a hit man, and the illegal business of exotic animals. It’s time to let the cat out of the bag and address the lingering questions that viewers demand be answered.”
When is it coming out?
No official release date has been confirmed, however, Variety reports that the show is expected to air later this year. This could be delayed by filming restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has halted production on several other films and TV series.
