Young meerkats shelter in a burrow in the Kalahari desert. (National Geographic/Thilo Beck)
Ryan Reynolds Teams Up With Nat Geo to Challenge Wildlife Media’s Bias With UNDERDOGS
Johannesburg, 28 May 2025 – In an era where mainstream wildlife programming tends to glorify apex predators and photogenic species, National Geographic is taking an overdue risk with its latest offering, UNDERDOGS. Narrated by the ever-charismatic Ryan Reynolds, this new wildlife documentary series casts a spotlight on nature’s most eccentric, misunderstood, and uncelebrated creatures.
Launching on 21 June 2025 at 18:00 (CAT) via National Geographic Wild (DStv 182, StarTimes 221) and Disney+ South Africa, UNDERDOGS offers a subversive take on natural history programming, daring to focus on the animals we rarely see and rarely consider vital.
A Subversive Exploration Of Survival And Resilience
Created by Reynolds’ Maximum Effort in partnership with Wildstar Films (a Fremantle company), UNDERDOGS celebrates the survival stories of creatures often ignored by traditional media. From manatees weaponising flatulence to shrimp that kill with soundwaves, this five-part series turns the wildlife genre on its head.
Speaking on the series, Reynolds noted:
“UNDERDOGS gave me the chance to work with National Geographic and finally make something my kids could watch without trauma. Well, mostly.”
Each episode confronts viewers with questions about our collective bias towards certain species while ignoring others playing equally essential ecological roles.
Unlikely Heroes, Unfiltered Narration
Among the standout features is the series’ refusal to romanticise or sanitise the animal kingdom. Segments like Superzeroes, Terrible Parents, and Total Grossout peel back nature’s polished veneer, exposing its grittier, weirder side.
Award-winning composer Harry Gregson-Williams (The Martian, Shrek) scores the series, while Green Day contributes an anthemic title track, Underdog, available on their expanded Saviors (édition de luxe) album.
More Than Entertainment: A Timely Commentary
While undeniably entertaining, UNDERDOGS subtly interrogates our relationship with nature and the media’s role in curating which creatures are worthy of attention. In a world obsessed with influencers and icons, perhaps it’s time audiences consider the overlooked — the invisible custodians of balance and biodiversity.
As modern media becomes increasingly filtered, UNDERDOGS poses a timely challenge: how much of the natural world are we choosing not to see?
