“Traveling pole to pole has not only changed the way I see our planet, it’s changed the way I see myself.” That sentiment sits at the heart of National Geographic’s newly released official trailer for Pole to Pole with Will Smith, a globe-spanning docuseries that sends the actor on an extreme journey across all seven continents. From frozen icefields to dense jungles, the series promises scale, danger, and reflection in equal measure. Watch the trailer above, then read on for what it sets out to explore.
Will journeys across the planet
Five years in the making, the seven-part series follows Will Smith on a 100-day expedition from the South Pole to the North Pole, travelling through Antarctica, the Amazon, the Himalayas, the Pacific Islands, the Kalahari Desert and the Arctic. Along the way, the trailer teases a mix of physical endurance and raw vulnerability as Smith tackles challenges that include skiing to the South Pole, diving beneath Arctic ice, climbing high-altitude mountains and facing lifelong fears in some of the world’s most remote environments.
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The footage leans into the sheer scale of the undertaking, with sweeping aerial shots, punishing conditions and moments that appear to teeter on the edge of going wrong. It frames the journey not just as a test of physical limits, but as something more personal too, sparked by Smith’s late mentor and a push to explore life’s bigger questions.
Science, culture and world-first discoveries
Beyond the spectacle, the trailer highlights the series’ scientific and cultural focus. Guided by scientists, explorers and local experts, Smith is shown taking part in research that includes extracting venom from a giant tarantula, studying ice cores in Antarctica, and helping capture world-first samples beneath the North Pole’s ice.
Equally central are the human connections forged along the way. From spending time with the Waorani community in the Amazon to meeting the San people in the Kalahari Desert, the series frames Indigenous knowledge and resilience as key to understanding both the planet’s present and its future.
Will Smith reflects on the journey
The trailer also makes space for Smith’s personal reflections on the experience. “This journey was unlike anything I’ve ever done, at times I feared I might not make it home!” he said in a statement. “It’s an exploration not just of the planet’s edges, but of some of the most extraordinary people living there. From the coldest ice to the deepest jungles, the beauty of our world inspired my every step with awe and hope.”
National Geographic executive vice president of Content Tom McDonald describes the project as a natural extension of the network’s mission, saying, “With Pole to Pole with Will Smith, we’re inviting audiences to see our planet through Will’s eyes, with all the wonder, humour, and humanity he brings to every experience.”
Produced by Westbrook Studios, Nutopia and Protozoa, the series marks Smith’s third collaboration with National Geographic following One Strange Rock and Welcome to Earth. Pole to Pole with Will Smith premieres January 14 on Disney+.
