Singapore – National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has announced three new co-productions aimed at unravelling prevailing mysteries of the past.

Partnering with Sky Vision, NGCI is co-producing the three-part special Jesus: Rise to Power, set to air in the U.S. and internationally in late-March 2013. NGCI has also announced the co-production of Bones of The Buddha (1 x 60’) from Icon Films, and Ultimate Tutankhamun (1 x 120’) from Blink Films – both of which will premiere internationally on National Geographic Channel in early summer.

“These three new specials – each uniquely geared at offering a comprehensive look at some of the ancient world’s most enduring stories – bolster NGCI’s programming schedule with the exact touchstone programming that fascinates our viewers,” said Hamish Mykura, Executive Vice President and Head of International Content for NGCI.

In Jesus: Rise to Power, NGCI charts the remarkable rise of Christianity against a backdrop of political instability, power struggles and a relentless string of persecutions. The three-part special follows Roman history expert Dr. Michael Scott through the deserts and the cities of the ancient world to reveal the epic events that formed the backbone of Christianity.

Blending forensic investigations, stylised reconstructions and extensive CGI, NGCI’s Ultimate Tutankhamun examines evidence that the Boy King’s mummified body spontaneously combusted due to unusual embalming methods, and shows how modern forensic accident reconstructions and bone tests reveal a likely cause of death.

Retracing the steps of an unexpected find in Northern India in 1898, Bones of The Buddha explores one of the most amazing discoveries in Buddhist history: a huge stone coffer containing five ancient soapstone jars, over 1000 separate jewels – as well as ash and bone.