‘American Experience’ to Release Four-Part Series on the History of the FBI in 2027

A four-part history of the FBI and its use and abuse of power is on its way from American Experience, the documentary series that airs on PBS. The Bureau: A Secret History of the FBI will air on the GBH-produced series in the fall of 2027, the series announced while revealing its coming lineup on Thursday. Helmed by McCarthy director Sharon Grimberg and Walt Disney director Sarah Colt, the limited series will follow “the rise, weaponization, and survival of the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency,” the series stated in a press release. That series will be released following the premiere of another high-profile project, the three-part documentary series Lindbergh. Premiering in May 2027, the film will profile its namesake, the controversial aviator who helmed the first uninterrupted solo flight across the Atlantic. Stephen Ives (The West) is directing and Ken Burns is executive producing. Also on the way is a series about the Great Depression, which is still in development. “At a time when misinformation floods our feeds, trusted brands like American Experience matter more than ever,” said GBH documentary editor-in-chief Raney Aronson-Rath in a statement. “Audiences are looking for stories they can rely on — grounded in the historical record, informed by rigorous scholarship, and brought to life through compelling storytelling. By exploring defining moments, iconic figures, and enduring themes, we’re reaching broader audiences and introducing new generations to history.” This season will additionally feature reruns of two Stanley Nelson documentaries about key events in the civil rights movement: Freedom Riders (2010) and Freedom Summer (2014). In the lineup announcement, representatives for American Experience additionally that the 37-year-old series has been growing its shortform video presence on social media platforms. The brand gained more than 19 million views on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube in the last five months, representing a 273 percent increase from the same period last year. “Having visionary filmmakers including Ken Burns, Stephen Ives, and Stanley Nelson involved with us is a testament to the importance of this moment in history, the way these topics relate to our world today, and the trust of American Experience as a brand,” GBH CEO Susan Goldberg said in a statement. “With Raney’s leadership, audiences can expect the highest quality documentaries available.”