Morgan Spurlock Joins CNN: Filmmaker To Launch Unscripted Series 'Inside Man'

Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock — the star of the documentary "Super Size Me" — is joining CNN, the network announced Thursday.

Spurlock will host and produce "Inside Man," the network's second unscripted series. It will debut in April 2013, around the same time as Anthony Bourdain's new travel show.

The network described in a statement, "Each week Spurlock will provide an insider’s view into rarely-seen sectors of American life that include gun lovers, marijuana growers, migrant farm workers, and end-of-life caregivers."

The announcement of Spurlock's show is the latest indication that CNN is looking to chart a different path as a way out of its ratings slump. Earlier in August, there were reports that CNN was eyeing reality shows as a potential savior. The network responded to the controversy by stressing that it was pursuing "nonfiction original series."

Mark Whitaker, CNN's managing editor, praised Spurlock for "creative and thought-provoking documentary story-telling” in a statement released on Thursday. “Like Anthony Bourdain’s new CNN series, Inside Man will carry the distinctive stamp of its host while taking viewers on colorful and informative journeys into fascinating corners of American society," he said.