Should you’ve ever needed to go on a whirlwind journey with Tom Hanks, now’s your probability.
The Oscar-winning actor is taking viewers on “an hour of discovery” as he narrates the brand new NBC 10-part nature documentary collection, The Americas, premiering Sunday, Feb. 23.
“He is the voice of America,” govt producer Mike Gunton tells ipromiseyoumedia of Hanks, who was his first alternative to supply voice — and coronary heart — behind the unbelievable footage he and his group captured.
The producer, whose many credit additionally embrace the character documentary hit Planet Earth II, describes exhibiting the episodes to Hanks as “fairly nerve-racking.” However as they watched collectively, Hanks instructed him, “I used to be born to relate this.”
“I believe he was,” Gunton continues. “It’s the good match for him as a result of it meets what we needed. Quite than that voice of God method, [Hanks] has a really a lot, ‘You are not going to consider this. Come and see this’ method.”
Hanks beforehand instructed ipromiseyoumedia the chance was one he could not move on. “I knew that I might be studying an terrible lot. I needed to be on the entrance line,” he shared.
“I really feel fortunate to be part of this extraordinary undertaking — of capturing one thing that’s so actual that it is irrefutable to anyone who watches it. And it is simply superb to be part of that,” Hanks added.
The actor advert libs and breaks the fourth wall as he guides viewers on a spell-bounding journey throughout North and South America. Every episode focuses on the pure fantastic thing about a distinct terrain, together with the Atlantic Coast, Mexico, Wild West, Amazon, Frozen North, Gulf Coast, Andes, Caribbean, West Coast, and Patagonia.
“It is nearly the final word safari,” Gunton describes. “If time and cash was no object and also you needed to take a journey from the north of this supercontinent, which is principally within the Arctic, all the way in which throughout the equator, throughout the tropics, down into the successfully the South Pole, these are the locations we might take you, and these are the tales we might inform you.”
He provides, it is “a rare journey of a lifetime.”
It took over 5 years, 180 expeditions, a group of scientists and months of “planning and permissions and logistical backup” to seize 10 completely different areas throughout North and South America.
“You continue to rely slightly bit on the Gods smiling on you,” he says. “However I might say of these 180 expeditions, nearly all of them have been profitable as a result of we had achieved the homework, but in addition as a result of the science, the scientists, the individuals in subject who we work with, they know the animals. And that is nearly an important half to have this on-the-ground experience as a result of they studied these animals generally for 30 years, in order that they know every part about it.”
Along with the fascinating imagery, the mixture of Hanks’ humorous and insightful narration, the music was composed by Oscar and Grammy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer. “It makes it sound like my life’s straightforward,” Gunton jokes of snagging Hanks and Zimmer. “It is not usually. However getting the very best musician, the very best narrator and the very best digicam groups on this was not exhausting as a result of I believe they might see what a rare undertaking it was.”
The collection spans throughout the terrain and pure habitats of every location’s inhabitants. From Andean bears (a.okay.a. Paddington) going out on a limb (actually) to watching wild horses run free within the Outer Banks, the footage was captured with out CGI. “Nothing in right here has been created contained in the magic of the digicam, completely nothing in any respect,” Hanks mentioned.
“You’ll be enthralled, enlightened, educated and — foremost — entertained,” Hanks promised. He added that the present “ship outstanding world firsts,” together with “new species, new intimate courtship, dramatic deep sea looking and a few of nature’s strangest tales.”
“That is my favourite a part of The Americas — seeing how usually all creatures nice and small play, occupy their time, hold themselves entertained. Carefree children — cubs, otters, pups, chicks, owls — studying the right way to do no matter they do for the primary time,” he mentioned. “It looks as if all of creation seeks some type of contact, affection, and togetherness that’s undeniably part of their habits.”
For Gunton, he hopes viewers have a “rediscovery and a reappraisal” of “how extraordinary, this marvelous world they inhabit is. How they’ll notice that really you’ll be able to go and see nature doing extraordinary issues nearly in your yard.”
“North America, it is so huge, the landscapes are so enormous, it will probably nearly really feel immutable,” he provides. “Nevertheless it’s nonetheless fragile. I am hoping that folks will both fall in love or fall again in love with this excellent land, and wish to make it possible for it is there for his or her youngsters and their grandkids.”
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The Americas premieres with two back-to-back episodes on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
