The final project from Allan King will not fade to black with the master documentarian’s recent passing.

Up until February, when the 79-year-old director was diagnosed with a brain tumor, he had talked to broadcasters about Endings, a doc that would, in five parts, address the issues he believed were leading to the extinction of the human species: climate, pollution, war, greed and ‘disunited nations.’ He planned to engage experts on these topics including Freeman Dyson, Stephen Weinberg, Timothy Garton Ash, Tony Judge, Paul Krugman and Stephen Clarkson.

In search of innovative solutions, the film would also track a ‘social dreaming’ conference in which participants would focus their dreams on these issues, and then discuss these dreams with others.

Colleen Murphy, King’s widow, has joined with Sarah Zammit, the project’s producer, to attempt to see the filmmaker’s last grand statement through to fruition.

‘We got a strong sense that not only is the topic urgent, timely and relevant, but that there was a will within the filmmaking community to see it happen,’ says Zammit, who had served as assistant producer on King’s Dying at Grace (2003) and Memory for Max, Claire, Ida and Company (2005).

They have also brought on board producer Avi Federgreen, an up-and-comer who had been a production manager on the drama series Twice in a Lifetime, episodes of which King directed.

‘He has helped more careers in the documentary world than anybody else I know, and it would be a shame not to see this film happen,’ Federgreen says.

Using King’s treatment as a blueprint, the producers are now deciding how many directors to involve, which could be anywhere from one to five (one per act). The filmmakers would likely have some association with King, and would be welcome to blend their own ideas for the project with his. The producers also have to nail down broadcaster commitments, although they are confident, given the momentum the project already has. They look to shoot next year.