​​Journey Through Planet’s Most Environments In National Geographic's New Series Pole To Pole With Will Smith

(MUMBAI - 16 January, 2026) This January, global icon Will Smith invites Indian audiences on an extraordinary journey of exploration with the new National Geographic original series POLE TO POLE WITH WILL SMITH.

The seven-part docuseries premieres, Fridays 9.30 pm on National Geographic Channel, bringing one of Nat Geo's most ambitious global productions to viewers across the country. Five years in the making, the series follows Will across all seven continents, taking him from the icefields of Antarctica to the jungles of the Amazon, the mountains of the Himalayas, the deserts of Africa, the islands of the Pacific and the icebergs of the Arctic.

Inspired by his late mentor to explore life's big questions, Will throws himself into incredible challenges for 100 days: skiing to the South Pole, catching a giant anaconda, milking a venomous tarantula, climbing mountains, and diving under the ice of the North Pole. He will venture from pole to pole in the company of scientists, explorers and local experts.

Told with a cinematic scale, access, and authenticity only National Geographic can deliver, this once-in-a-lifetime adventure blends cutting-edge science, environmental storytelling, and bold exploration. Guided by experts, scientists and explorers, Will helps make world-first scientific discoveries and forges profound human connections - from the Amazon's Waorani community to the Kalahari's San people, whose knowledge and resilience offer powerful lessons about our future on the planet. POLE TO POLE WITH WILL SMITH is an epic global undertaking defined by endurance, wonder and hope.

"This journey was unlike anything I've ever done - at times I feared I might not make it home! It's an exploration not just of the planet's edges, but of some of the most extraordinary people living there," said Smith. "From the coldest ice to the deepest jungles, the beauty of our world inspired my every step with awe and hope."

"With POLE TO POLE WITH WILL SMITH, we're inviting audiences to see our planet through Will's eyes - with all the wonder, humor, and humanity he brings to every experience," said Tom McDonald, EVP, Content, National Geographic. "It's a thrilling adventure that embodies what National Geographic does best: combining jaw-dropping cinematography, powerful storytelling and a deeper understanding of how our world works - and why it matters."

Episodes include the following:

● "The South Pole" premieres Friday, Jan. 16th at 9.30 PM on National Geographic

Will heads to the South Pole, where temperatures can drop below minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit. He skis and treks across giant icefields, and, faced with a giant cliff of ice in bone-chilling winds, struggles to climb to the top. Only with the support of one of the world's best polar athletes, Richard Parks, does he succeed. In one of the planet's most isolated research stations, scientists take ice cores deep under the surface and make incredible sacrifices to pursue their research.

● "The Amazon: Deadly Creatures" premieres Friday, Jan. 23rd at 9.30 PM on National Geographic

Will, A MAN SCARED OF SPIDERS HIS WHOLE LIFE, ventures deep into the Ecuadorian Amazon on an expedition in search of deadly creatures. Joined by professor Bryan Fry and local mountaineer Carla Perez, they abseil 200 feet into a cave network known as the "womb of the Earth," where they discover a giant tarantula. Using cutting- edge techniques, they extract its venom, which could hold the key to saving millions of Lives.

● "The Amazon: Dark Waters" premieres Friday, Jan. 30th at 9.30 PM on National Geographic

Will, Bryan and Carla join local Waorani elder Penti Baihua in the Amazon, in search of the world's biggest snake: the giant green anaconda. They carefully remove just one scale from the 17-foot snake's skin. Will's fear turns into relief, then joy. The single scale can reveal the health of the entire ecosystem - crucial for the future of both wildlife and the Waorani.