Ryan Reynolds Celebrates Nature’s Underdogs in Groundbreaking Nat Geo Series
RYAN REYNOLDS CELEBRATES NATURE’S UNSUNG HEROES WITH UNDERDOGS, A BOUNDARY-BREAKING NATURAL HISTORY EXPERIENCE
Hold on tight—National Geographic is flipping the wildlife documentary world on its head. UNDERDOGS, a fresh, funny, and visually jaw-dropping series narrated by Ryan Reynolds, is set to premiere on 21 June 2025 on National Geographic Wild and stream on Disney+ South Africa. This five-part series gives the stage to the misfits of the animal kingdom—creatures with quirks, oddities, and survival skills that are as baffling as they are brilliant.
Produced by Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and the acclaimed Wildstar Films (a Fremantle company), UNDERDOGS breaks the mold of traditional wildlife storytelling. For 137 years, National Geographic has brought us majestic whales, regal lions, and graceful giraffes. Now, it’s time for mucus-covered glowworms, poop-feeding koalas, and flatulent manatees to have their moment in the spotlight.
“Getting to work with National Geographic on UNDERDOGS was a dream come true—mostly because I can finally watch a project of ours with my children. Technically, they saw Deadpool & Wolverine, but I don’t think they absorbed much while covering their eyes and ears and screaming for two hours.”
said Ryan Reynolds
🎶 Soundtrack to the Strange
Setting the tone for this boundary-pushing nature series is Green Day, whose new track “Underdog” features as the series’ anthem. Pulled from the deluxe edition of their latest album Saviors, the song is an audacious ode to resilience and rebellion, perfectly echoing the series’ spirit. The original score is composed by Harry Gregson-Williams (Shrek, The Martian, Gladiator 2), with the official soundtrack dropping on 13 June via Hollywood Records.
🔍 Each Episode of UNDERDOGS Takes You Deeper into the Wild Side of Weird:
1. Superzeroes
Forget eagles and elephants. Meet the pistol shrimp that fires sonic bubbles, glass frogs that turn invisible, and the immortal, unbothered honey badger. These unlikely supercreatures are rewriting the rulebook on power.
2. Terrible Parents
From cliff-top egg-laying geese to poop-feeding koalas, Reynolds humorously explores the worst parenting decisions in the animal world—and somehow makes them endearing.
3. Sexy Beasts
It’s love, but weird. With giant-nosed monkeys, wingmanning turkeys, and foreplay-loving flying foxes, courtship has never looked this bizarre—or this entertaining.
4. The Unusual Suspects
Disguises, scams, and betrayal! From frogfish impersonators to multi-headed caterpillars, these underdogs play dirty. And don’t miss the macaque con artist that pickpockets tourists.
5. Total Grossout
If it oozes, glows, or farts—it’s in here. Bioluminescent fungus gnats, buoyancy-controlling manatees, and other gross-out geniuses show us that being disgusting can be a winning evolutionary move.
🌍 Beyond the Laughs
Beneath Reynolds’ signature humor and Maximum Effort charm, UNDERDOGS serves a greater mission: shining a light on overlooked species and reminding viewers that nature’s weirdos are essential to life on Earth. These outliers often play vital roles in ecosystems, displaying remarkable intelligence, resilience, and adaptation.
With jaw-dropping cinematography, never-before-seen footage (including a glowing cave in New Zealand), and a bold soundtrack, UNDERDOGS is the superhero blockbuster of the summer—just with more mucus.
📺 Where to Watch
Catch UNDERDOGS starting 21 June 2025 at 18:00 CAT on National Geographic Wild (DStv 182, StarTimes 221), with streaming available on Disney+ South Africa.
