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EXCLUSIVE: PBS and Bill Nye are adding a new element to their longtime relationship. The pubcaster has acquired North American distribution rights to _Bill Nye: Science Guy_, the documentary

that had its world premiere this year at SXSW. The plan is to give the film a significant theatrical release nationwide. It will have its TV premiere in 2018 on PBS’ long-running docuseries

_POV_, which kicks off its 30th season later this month. Nye’s long-running _Bill Nye The Science Guy_ kids-focused science show aired on PBS for five seasons in the mid-1990s and won 19

Emmys. He is currently hosting _Bill Nye Saves The World,_ a new late-night-style Netflix talk show that explores science and how it intersects with politics, pop culture and society. _Bill

Nye: Science Guy_, which is next up screening Sunday at AFI Docs and then the Los Angeles Film Festival, is plenty timely in the era of Paris accord withdrawals and EPA cutbacks. Directed by

 Jason Sussberg and David Alvarado, it focuses on Nye (not the kids show version), CEO of The Planetary Society, who is leading a mission to launch a solar-powered satellite and advocating

for the importance of science, research and discovery. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Ann Druyan, Francis Collins, Heather Berlin, Eugenie Scott, Jim White, Michael Mann, Ken Ham, and Joe Bastardi are

among the talking heads. WATCH ON DEADLINE “Many of us grew up with Bill Nye The Science Guy. He loved science, and he inspired a whole generation of kids to share that passion through his

PBS show,” said _POV_ director/executive producer Justine Nagan. “Now, as champion for climate science, this film will spark dialogue across ideological lines.” Seth Gordon, Kate McLean and

Nick Pampenella are producers, and Mary Rohlich is executive producer. The deal was negotiated by Emily Rothschild, Nagan and Chris White for PBS/POV with WME on behalf of the filmmakers.