Tiger King returns? Joe Exotic teases new documentary to set the record straight in 2025

On July 19, 2025, Tiger King fans got a surprise. Joe Exotic posted a short video on Instagram hinting at a brand‑new documentary called Tiger King: Truth Exposed. He promised never‑before‑seen footage and interviews with “people who weren’t paid to lie on Netflix,” saying his film will tell the “real story” of the events that first made him famous.

With a bold image of a tiger baring its teeth above barbed wire and even an “AI” watermark on the Prime logo, Exotic’s post claimed the documentary will land in September 2025 on Amazon Prime. This tease comes more than five years after the original series first drew millions of viewers into a world of big cats, eccentric characters, and criminal plots.

It also raises questions about how much control Exotic will have over the narrative. The original series premiered on Netflix on March 20, 2020, introducing viewers to the strange feud between Exotic and Carole Baskin. That show mixed true‑crime drama with wild personalities and sparked debates about animal welfare and sensationalism.

Now, as Joe Exotic remains behind bars serving a 21‑year sentence for murder‑for‑hire and wildlife crimes, he’s promising a fresh version of the tale, one he says will correct omissions and set the record straight. Whether audiences will see a more balanced look at Tiger King or another round of headline‑grabbing drama remains to be seen.

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Joe Exotic teases a new documentary this fall

In his latest Instagram update, Joe Exotic tagged fellow Tiger King star John Reinke and shared key art for Tiger King: Truth Exposed. The image shows a snarling tiger over barbed wire.

Joe Exotic’s caption says,

“Available for distribution, September 2025. The real story about the people in Tiger King. Never-before-seen footage, interviews from the people that wasn't paid to lie on Netflix. You don't want to miss this."

This direct tease suggests Exoticor, whoever controls his social media, has secured rights to previously unpublished clips. The tone of the post is defiant, as he frames the original Tiger King as biased and incomplete.

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Anticipated September 2025 release on Amazon Prime

Although Exotic’s post names Amazon Prime as the home for the new film, there has been no official announcement from Amazon or other major platforms. Searches for “Tiger King: Truth Exposed” on Prime’s site yield no results, and Amazon’s PR team has not commented publicly.

If the documentary does arrive on a major streaming service, it would mark a rare case of a convicted felon directing a true‑crime project through official channels. Until an official trailer or press release appears, fans must rely on Exotic’s social media claims and on the hope that the release date holds firm.

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Joe Exotic remains in prison while promoting his story

Joe Exotic (born Joseph Maldonado‑Passage) is incarcerated at Federal Medical Center, Fort Worth, serving a 21‑year sentence for murder‑for‑hire and multiple wildlife violations. He originally received 22 years in January 2020, but an appeal cut his term by one year in early 2022.

Exotic has filed further appeals, arguing that prosecutorial misconduct and unfair media coverage fueled by the Tiger King frenzy. Despite limited access, he continues to post updates via his attorneys and record interview snippets for podcast efforts that now include promoting this new documentary.

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Tiger King sparked global interest in big cat controversies

When the show launched in March 2020, it quickly became one of Netflix’s most‑watched true‑crime series. Viewers were drawn to Exotic’s over‑the‑top persona, the feud over big‑cat breeding, and the mysterious disappearance of Carole Baskin’s husband.

The show also reignited investigations like the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reopening Don Lewis’s case and fueled debates about how documentaries handle sensational stories. For many, the series offered a headline‑grabbing ride; for others, it highlighted deeper issues around animal welfare and the ethics of reality storytelling.

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Questions remain over the new documentary’s focus and objectivity

Critics of the original Tiger King series noted its sensational tone and limited focus on animal welfare. If Truth Exposed truly delivers “voices that were silenced,” viewers will be watching closely for balance and fairness.

Will Joe Exotic address his own legal and ethical missteps, or will the film simply recast him as a victim? And can any project led by Exotic himself escape the bias that fueled the first series?

With its promise to “set the record straight,” the new documentary has high expectations and plenty of skeptics tuned in to see if it can meet them.