Leonardo DiCaprio and Netflix team up to make more documentaries after Virunga

The actor will produce further conservation-based projects for the streaming service

Leonardo DiCaprio will produce more documentaries for Netflix after Oscar-nominated Virunga (Getty Images)

Leonardo DiCaprio is teaming up with Netflix to make more conservation documentaries following the success of his Oscar-nominated Virunga.

The Hollywood actor will produce full-length, fact-based documentary and docu-series projects focused on environmental issues, which will premiere exclusively on the online streaming service.

"Working with Netflix on Virunga has sparked a shared vision about projects that we want to develop and bring to viewers,” DiCaprio said in a statement. “There’s never been a more critical time for our planet or more of a need for gifted storytellers to help us all make sense of the issues we face.”

“This partnership is a natural extension of our incredible relationship with Leo on Virunga,” added Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, referring to the acclaimed documentary about rare mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s national park.

DiCaprio heads The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which works to save threatened species and protect some of the last wild places left in our world. He was made a UN Messenger of Peace with a focus on climate change in September.

The 40-year-old is the latest high profile star to forge a multi-year deal with Netflix, with comedian Adam Sandler already on board to act in and produce four films exclusive to the expanding company, which currently boasts more than 57 million subscribers globally.

Tina Fey and Robert Carlock’s new TV series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt will also debut on Netflix later this month.

The digital service is growing in popularity, with original hit shows such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black drawing a large audience.