Barbara Walters Like You’ve Never Seen Her: New Hulu Doc Exposes Fame, Struggles, and Secrets Behind the Legend
ABC News Studios has announced the upcoming release of “Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything”, a feature-length documentary that promises to deliver a powerful and intimate portrait of the late broadcast journalism icon. Premiering Monday, June 23, on Hulu in the U.S. — and internationally on Disney+ later this year — the film will debut globally following its world premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival.
“Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything” Background
Produced by Imagine Documentaries, the company behind the 2024 Emmy® Award-winning “Jim Henson Idea Man”, this new project brings together a heavyweight team including producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, and director Jackie Jesko, an Emmy-winning journalist and filmmaker. The film is positioned as the definitive look at Barbara Walters’ life and groundbreaking career.
The documentary promises a raw and revealing look at Walters’ personal and professional life, including her reflections on fame, sacrifice, and her enduring legacy. Viewers will hear from Walters herself through archival footage, as well as from an array of prominent figures who knew and worked with her, such as Oprah Winfrey, Joy Behar, Katie Couric, Connie Chung, and Bette Midler.
“My hope for the film is that audiences feel they get to know the real Barbara, in all her complexities — her private struggles and her public triumphs,” said Jesko. She emphasized the relevance of Walters’ story today, at a time when the relationship between journalism and public figures continues to evolve.
Barbara Walters: The Original Trailblazer
Walters, who passed away in December 2022, was a true trailblazer in broadcast journalism, famously becoming the first woman to co-anchor a network evening news program. Known for her fearless interviews and unrivaled journalistic instincts, she also faced intense scrutiny and systemic sexism as she carved out a path for future generations of women in media.
“ABC News broke new ground by hiring Barbara and putting a woman at the anchor desk which was the exclusive preserve of men,” said David Sloan, senior executive producer at ABC News. “Her road was filled with peril and naysayers… Nevertheless, Barbara created a dazzling career that had no blueprint and changed broadcast journalism forever.”
Sara Bernstein, president of Imagine Documentaries, praised Walters’ impact on journalism and celebrity culture. “She not only changed the face of broadcast journalism and set the gold standard, but she completely transformed the culture’s consumption of celebrity journalism.”
With never-before-seen footage and behind-the-scenes insights, Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything promises to be both a tribute and a critical exploration of one of journalism’s most influential figures.
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