“Traveling from pole to pole not only changed the way I saw the Earth, it changed the way I saw myself.” That sentiment is at the heart of National Geographic’s new official trailer for Pole to Pole with Will Smith. The film is a cross-world documentary that sends Will Smith on an extreme journey across all seven continents. From frozen ice fields to dense jungles, this series promises scale, danger, and reflection in equal measure. Watch the trailer above and read what it explores.
Will travels the globe
Five years in the making, the seven-part series follows Will Smith on a 100-day South Pole-to-North Pole expedition that takes him through Antarctica, the Amazon, the Himalayas, the Pacific Islands, the Kalahari Desert, and the North Pole. Along the way, the trailer depicts a combination of physical endurance and raw vulnerability as Smith tackles challenges such as skiing to the South Pole, diving beneath the ice of the North Pole, climbing high mountains, and facing lifelong fears in some of the world’s most remote environments.
The film explores the sheer scale of this undertaking, with expansive aerial shots, harsh conditions, and moments teetering on the brink of things going wrong. The journey is not just about pushing physical limits, but also something more personal, inspired by Smith’s late mentor and an exploration of life’s larger questions.
Science, culture, and world’s first discoveries
Beyond the spectacle, the trailer highlights the series’ scientific and cultural focus. Guided by scientists, explorers, and local experts, the film follows Smith as he extracts venom from giant tarantulas, studies Antarctic ice cores, and helps collect the world’s first samples beneath the Arctic ice.
Equally central are the relationships built in the process. From spending time with the Huaorani community in the Amazon to encounters with the San people of the Kalahari Desert, this series shows that indigenous knowledge and resilience are key to understanding both the present and future of our planet.
Will Smith looks back on his journey
The trailer also includes a personal reflection on Smith’s experience. “This journey was unlike anything I had ever experienced before, and there were times when I feared I would never make it home,” he said in a statement. “This is an exploration not only of the edges of the Earth, but also of its most extraordinary people. From the frigid ice to the deepest jungles, the beauty of our world has inspired awe and hope with every step I take.”
Tom McDonald, National Geographic’s executive vice president of content, described the project as a natural extension of the network’s mission, saying, “Pole to Pole with Will Smith invites viewers to see our planet through Will’s eyes, with all the wonder, humor and humanity that Will Smith brings to every experience.”
The series, produced by Westbrook Studios, Nutopia and Protozoa, marks Smith’s third collaboration with National Geographic, following One Strange Rock and Welcome to Earth. Pole to Pole, starring Will Smith, will premiere on January 14th on Disney+.
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