Jane Goodall's Final Adventures Immortalized in Intimate Documentary "Just Me, Jane"

In the coming years, a new documentary film titled "Just Me, Jane" will offer an intimate look into the final adventures of renowned environmental activist Jane Goodall. The footage, captured in the three years before Goodall's death on October 1, 2022 at the age of 91, will serve as the basis for the film directed by Richard Ladkani.

Ladkani, who was Goodall's mentee for 15 years, describes her as his "guiding star." He says Goodall's lessons on using film to "move hearts, change minds, and make the world a better place" have deeply influenced his work, including the recent documentary "Yanuni" about an Indigenous chief's fight to save the Brazilian Amazon.

"Her spirit lives in everything I create," Ladkani states, noting that "Just Me, Jane" is his way of honoring Goodall's legacy and ensuring her voice continues to inspire future generations. The film is currently in post-production and is expected to be completed by June 2026.

Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way along with other partners, "Just Me, Jane" has been described as an "intimate portrait" that will showcase Goodall's "radiant spirit with a sharp wit, a deep curiosity about life and death, and a remarkable resilience in the face of a changing world." The documentary team filmed Goodall across 27 countries, amassing hundreds of hours of footage over more than 100 days.