It's been revealed the documentary on the disappearance of Tom Phillips will screen on Netflix.

He and his children were missing for four years when the saga ended with a shootout in September - killing the fugitive. 

Dame Julie Christie is creating a documentary on the case with the help of the police, and has been granted exclusive access.  

NZME editor-at-large Shayne Currie says the final product could just be a piece of police PR. 

"There are these clauses within there that do allow police (A) to have viewing and vetting rights and (B) by the sounds of it, to have the ultimate call on whether it even screens certain contact."

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• Tom Phillips gag order: Kids' mother joins legal battle
• 'Our sincere apology': Tom Phillips’ parents speak out, say they never supported him
• 'Prepared to put the children in harm’s way': Fugitive dad was unlikely to surrender - police
• Watch: First look inside Tom Phillips’ 'grim' bush hideout after cordon lifts
• Police close in on evidence from Tom Phillips camps, cordons expected to lift