Leonardo DiCaprio partners with Netflix

Maria Puente | USA TODAY

Netflix continues its march to dominion: It's partnering with Leonardo DiCaprio on future environmental documentary projects.

Netflix announced Wednesday that it will work with DiCaprio's Appian Way production company on environmental- and conservation-themed documentary and docu-series projects as part of a First Look deal for non-fiction projects to premiere on Netflix.

Under the terms of the multi-year deal, Netflix and DiCaprio will identify and develop "fact-based projects," including acquired existing projects. DiCaprio will be producer or executive producer for all projects launched through the partnership.

Netflix and DiCaprio first partnered on the documentary Virunga, about protecting the last of the mountain gorillas in Africa, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature this year. DiCaprio also produced a documentary look at the state of the global environment, The 11th Hour, in 2007.

Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos called it a "natural extension" of an already-existing relationship.

DiCaprio said in a statement that his vision includes more than just entertainment.

"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," he said. "Through this partnership with Netflix, I hope to give documentary filmmakers doing urgent and important work the chance to have their films seen immediately by audiences all around the world."

Although he's an Oscar-nominated actor (five times), DiCaprio has also earned a reputation as a producer, philanthropist and environmental activist in recent years. He was named a U.N. Messenger of Peace focused on climate change in September, and his Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation works to protect wild places and threatened species.

Appian Way (named for the ancient Roman road) has released a diverse slate of films including Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street and The Aviator,and George Clooney's The Ides of March.

The deal with DiCaprio is the latest in a headline-making series for Netflix. It just paid nearly $12 million for the worldwide rights this week to Cary Fukunaga's African war drama, Beasts of No Nation, starring Idris Elba, for its global streaming service and theatrical release.