Jane Goodall‘s final adventures will serve as the basis for the forthcoming documentary film Just Me, Jane helmed by director Richard Ladkani. The footage was captured in the three years before the environmental activist died on Oct. 1 at the age of 91.

“Jane wasn’t just my mentor — she was my guiding star,” Ladkani said in a statement. “She taught me that film can move hearts, change minds, and make the world a better place.” Goodall’s lessons — shared throughout their 15 year friendship — served him well during the creation of Yanuni, which follows Indigenous Chief Juma Xipaia through a fight to save the Brazilian Amazon.

“Her spirit lives in everything I create, from Yanuni to the legacy film I’m now making in her honor,” Ladkani continued. “It’s my way of saying thank you — and ensuring her voice continues to inspire generations to come.”

Jane Goodall and Richard Ladkani

Malaika Pictures*

The two films share a producer in Leonardo DiCaprio. “Jane Goodall devoted her life to protecting our planet and giving a voice to the wild animals and the ecosystems they inhabit,” the actor shared in a tribute. “Her groundbreaking research on Chimpanzees in Tanzania transformed our understanding of how our closest relatives live, socialize, and think … She spoke directly to the next generation, instilling hope, responsibility, and the belief that every individual can make a difference.”

Just Me, Jane is currently in postproduction and is expected to be complete in June 2026. Malaika Pictures is helming production in association with Age of Union and Appian Way. DiCaprio is named as a producer alongside Dax Dasilva, Jennifer Davisson, and Phillip Watson. It began as a “private project” between Goodall and Ladkani, but quickly became what is described as a legacy-defining film.

The documentary has been described as “an intimate portrait of Jane: a radiant spirit with a sharp wit, a deep curiosity about life and death, ‘that next great adventure’ and a remarkable resilience in the face of a changing world.” Goodall and Ladkani visited 27 countries while filming, with stops in cities including Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Los Angeles. Locations across Europe and Africa will also serve as a backdrop to their adventures together. They filmed across more than 100 days, amassing hundreds of hours of footage.

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“For the past two and a half years, Jane opened her heart and her world to her dear friend, director Richard Ladkani, giving him the rare gift of joining her on her journeys and capturing her life from an intimate, deeply personal perspective,” said Susana Name, VP Office of the Founder at the Jane Goodall Institute, in a statement.

“Through his eyes, we see not only her mission, but the real Jane — the woman of courage, warmth, and grace behind the icon. I’m deeply proud to continue supporting this project, along with my colleagues at the Jane Goodall Institute, as it honors her spirit and celebrates her extraordinary legacy with authenticity, compassion, and truth.”