Wild Hope: Mission Impossible
Wild Hope: Mission Impossible follows Pat Brown, biochemist and inventor of the world-famous Impossible Burger, on his mission to fight climate change and biodiversity collapse. After proving that plant-based meat can compete with conventional animal products, Dr. Brown sets his sights on an even bigger challenge: transforming carbon-emitting cattle ranches into thriving, carbon-capturing forests.
As a part of the Wild Hope series, Pat Brown’s story aimed to showcase an often underrepresented side of conservation: the science required to redefine humanity’s dependence on natural resources. The impact campaign used the film and Dr. Brown to draw audiences of foodies, educators, and nature lovers into conversation about how our food choices affect climate change and biodiversity loss.
Highlights
902K+
YouTube views
46K+
Instagram views
400+
educators reached at the National Association of Biology Teachers Conference
10
film festivals and screening events
332K
viewers reached through SciShow co-produced episodes
Initiative
Wild Hope: Mission Impossible inspired audiences through educational screenings, expert panels, and media partnerships focused on sustainable food and land restoration. The impact initiative generated further viewership and engagement by:
- Partnering with the NAS Science & Entertainment Exchange to producing and distributing two “Ask A Scientist” videos with Pat Brown
- Holding a special screening and Q&A for 400+ biology teachers at the National Association of Biology Teachers conference
- Pairing global film festival screenings with expert panels featuring Pat Brown, Head of Tangled Bank Studios Jared Lipworth, and community advocates
- Collaborating with Food Tank, a global nonprofit focused on sustainable food systems, to feature the film in their newsletter and facilitate a live conversation with Pat Brown and Jared Lipworth at SXSW 2025
- Partnering with Re:wild Your Fridge, a campaign educating millions about the link between food choices and planetary health, to reach audiences already primed to take action on food and the environment
- Co-producing videos with the YouTube science channel SciShow, expanding on topics like reforestation and plant-based meats to reach a more digital-native audience
Screenings & Events
Wild Hope: Mission Impossible premiered on PBS Nature on March 29, 2025. Prior to its official release, the film screened at multiple film festivals and the National Association of Biology Teachers conference. Dr. Pat Brown was in attendance at festivals to lead engaging panel discussions and answer audience questions.
- Twin Cities Film Festival
- Ceres Film Festival
- Coronado Island Film Festival
- Wild & Scenic Film Festival | Winner: Best in Theme: Wild at Heart Jury Award
- SXSF
- D.C. Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF)
Social Media
Wild Hope: Mission Impossible generated significant engagement across multiple platforms and partner accounts.
- Wild Hope Instagram (46.6k followers): Multiple posts highlighting film themes, scientist Pat Brown, and the Carbon Ranch project
- HHMI Tangled Bank Studios: Posts across LinkedIn (900 followers), X (1.9k followers), and Instagram (1.6k followers)
- Collaborative posts with PBS Nature (180k Instagram followers), SciStarter, GLOBE Program, and Food Tank (59.8k Instagram followers)
- Ceres Film Festival (5k Instagram followers) promoted the film to its food-focused community
- Two co-produced videos with SciShow reaching a collective 332k viewers:
Partnerships
Tangled Bank Studios amplified the film's message beyond YouTube and broadcast by building partnerships with organizations at the intersection of science, food, and sustainability. These efforts extended Wild Hope: Mission Impossible’s reach to new and engaged audiences through editorial features, live events, and digital content.
- NAS Science & Entertainment Exchange: In partnership with the NAS Science & Entertainment Exchange, Tangled Bank Studios developed a virtual interview featuring scientist Pat Brown in conversation with filmmaker Danny O’Malley. The interview was released on YouTube as part of the “Ask A Scientist” series — a National Academy of Sciences program that connects entertainment industry professionals with top scientists to bring science to new audiences.
- Food Tank: Food Tank is a global nonprofit dedicated to transforming food systems for a healthier planet and people. Wild Hope: Mission Impossible was featured in Food Tank’s newsletter, and Pat Brown and Jared Lipworth spoke with Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank, at SXSW 2025.
- Re:wild Your Fridge: Re:wild Your Fridge educates millions of people each month about the link between food choices and the health of our planet. Wild Hope: Mission Impossible was featured in its February 2025 newsletter.
Press Coverage
MovieMaker Magazine
Impossible Burger creator Pat Brown says solving global warming is extremely possible
Vegconomist
Wild Hope documentary spotlights impossible foods and the role of plant-based innovation in climate change mitigation
Plant Based News
Impossible Foods founder explores turning cattle ranches into forests in new documentary
About the Film
It was a late-career epiphany that led internationally acclaimed scientist Pat Brown to abandon his academic career and commit himself to fighting global warming and biodiversity collapse. He did it, against all odds, by developing a surprising product: the revolutionary and delicious plant-based Impossible Burger.
Through groundbreaking science and unwavering commitment, Pat's work has not only transformed the culinary landscape but is also providing real hope for a more sustainable and ethical food system.
Now, having proven that plant-based meat can compete with animal products on the open market, Pat is jumping ahead to the next big question: What’s the best way to use the land that can be freed up from raising cows and other livestock? On a thousand acres in Arkansas owned by the Impossible Foundation, Pat and fellow scientist Michael Eisen are boots-deep into a real-world case study on turning carbon-emitting cattle ranches into carbon-capturing forests that also promote biodiversity. They call it the Carbon Ranch.
Wild Hope: Mission Impossible was produced by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and Red Rock Films Productions, in association with Camera One Productions, LLC. The film was directed and produced by David Murdock.
Learn More
Explore more about Wild Hope: Mission Impossible, read reviews and press coverage, and find out where to watch.