Trailer Arrives For Mr. Rogers Documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Today would have been Fred Rogers’ 90th birthday and to celebrate, Focus Features has released the trailer for their documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? It was directed by Morgan Neville and arrives in select theaters on June 8. Neville will also produce with Caryn Capotosto and Nicholas Ma, along with Tremolo Productions, Impact Partners and Independent Lens/PBS.

Here’s a synopsis: Won’t You Be My Neighbor? takes an intimate look at America’s favorite neighbor: Mister Fred Rogers. A portrait of a man whom we all think we know, this documentary is an emotional and moving film that takes you beyond zip-up cardigans and the land of make-believe, and into the heart of a creative genius, who inspired generations of children with compassion and limitless imagination.

Focus chairman Peter Kujawski said: “Morgan once again avoids making a traditional biodoc and instead takes us behind the curtain to see how Fred Rogers navigated the cultural and social issues of the second half of the twentieth century with his own brand of forward-thinking, compassionate wisdom far beyond his time. Mister Rogers makes us all want to be better people, and we couldn’t be more proud to be a part of telling his story today.”

Neville added: “The Fred Rogers I discovered making this film is at once comfortably familiar and completely surprising. I believe Mister Rogers is the kind of voice we need to hear right now. I am thrilled to work with Focus Features on taking this film out into the world, along with my collaborators at Impact Partners and Independent Lens.”

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood debuted on February 19, 1968. It ran for over 31 seasons and 895 episodes. It was nominated for 59 Daytime Emmy award nominations and four wins. Rogers was given a Lifetime achievement award in 1997.