Tesla CEO Elon Musk teams up with Leonardo DiCaprio in new film about climate change [Video]

Before the Flood is a new documentary by actor/director Fisher Stevens starring Leonardo DiCaprio about climate change. Before the Flood's limited theatrical release will start October 21st and will air globally on the National Geographic Channel on October 30th. According to the Hollywood Reporter: "The climate change documentary sees [Leonardo DiCaprio] the Oscar winner traveling around the world, giving an address an the U.N. and meeting with the likes of Pope Francis and Elon Musk."

Above: Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Leonardo DiCaprio discuss cimate change in the new documentary film, Before the Flood (Source: Electrek)

“Climate change is the most critical and urgent problem facing our world today, and it must be a top issue for voters this election day,” explained DiCaprio. “Fisher and I set out to make a film that not only educates people about the challenges we face if we fail to act, but one which also shows the solutions we can implement if we can find the political will to do so. We need leaders not only in the United States, but across the globe, who believe in the science of climate change and who have the courage to take a stand for our planet.” Interestingly, Musk and DiCaprio had also worked together on the climate change issue (along with watch company Tag Heuer) back in 2010.

Above: DiCaprio was also involved with Tesla and Elon Musk back in 2010 celebrating Tag Heuer’s climate change efforts which included a special edition of the Tesla Roadster (Source: Lucire)

DiCaprio also has a history of owning green cars. Originally, years back, DiCaprio made an appearance at the Oscars in his Toyota Prius. After that, he explained to Top Gear that, “I have my Fisker, obviously, and I have a Lexus hybrid, but I don’t own anything else... Ever since I learned about hybrid vehicles, that’s all I’ve really owned.” Maybe his time with Elon Musk at Tesla's Gigafactory signifies that he might be considering an all-electric Tesla of his own?

Above: Leonardo DiCaprio with his plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the Fisker Karma, back in 2012 (Source: Top Gear)

It turns out, DiCaprio was seen (in the passenger seat) with his 71-year-old father, George DiCaprio, driving a Tesla Model S. The Daily Mail reports, "The father and son were joined by a male friend, and they later zipped off in a black Tesla electric car." Check out the photo shot in Beverly Hills back in March (see below). In our humble opinion, Leo should trade in his old Fisker for a new Tesla Model S P100DL. 

Above: Leonardo in his father George DiCaprio's Tesla Model S with a friend in the backseat (Source: Daily Mail) 

In any event, we agree with Electrek, as they note: "We obviously follow the climate change ‘debate’ pretty closely here and as the cause moves into popular culture, we’re here to cheer it on. Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary Before the Flood will hit the National Geographic Channel... [and] it appears that DiCaprio is touring the Tesla Gigafactory 1 outside of Reno Nevada. Tesla CEO Elon Musk tells him that 100 of these factories are needed to remove fossil fuels from the global energy equation and move to sustainable energy."

Above: Before the Flood's official trailer starring Leonardo DiCaprio and featuring Tesla CEO Elon Musk (Youtube: National Geographic)

Produced by Martin Scorsese, Before the Flood follows DiCaprio as he travels to five continents and the Arctic to gain a deeper, personal understanding of climate change. And, back in 2014, DiCaprio was designated a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a special focus on climate change by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.  The film documents dramatic changes already occurring around the world and offers actions that can be taken to help reverse the trend. 

Above: The poster for Before the Flood (Source: Shelter Island Reporter via National Geographic Films)

The film premiered last night at the White House's South by South Lawn festival and was followed by a panel discussion with DiCaprio, President Obama, and atmospheric scientist Katharine Hayhoe. During the discussion, DiCaprio even joked that he wanted to join Elon Musk on Mars. In the film, Musk joins DiCaprio along with other luminaries including the Pope, two Presidents (Barack Obama and Bill Clinton) and Secretary of State, John Kerry, among others. We're looking forward to seeing (and supporting) the film as it hits theaters, and, premieres on the National Geographic Channel on October 30th.