Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 13, 2025 · Entertainment

Ryan Reynolds Unleashes His Wild Side in Nat Geo's Hilarious 'Underdogs' Docu-Series!

A new National Geographic documentary narrated by Ryan Reynolds (pictured) is set to hit screens in days and a producer has revealed how involved the Deadpool star was

RYAN REYNOLDS BRINGS THE FUNNY TO WILD ANIMAL DOCUMENTARY - EXCLUSIVE

Get ready for a wild ride like no other, folks! Ryan Reynolds is set to narrate the new National Geographic docu-series "Underdogs", and we've got the inside scoop on how he brought his trademark humor to this heart-pumping, awe-inspiring animal adventure.

In just days, Disney+ and Nat Geo Wild will unleash the five-part series that takes viewers on a thrilling journey into the secret lives of unique and weird animals from around the globe. And, trust us, Ryan's irreverent charm is all over it!

Underdogs will explore how unique and weird animals live their day to day lives in the wild. The five-part series premieres on Disney+ from June 16 and Nat Geo Wild on June 18 at 9pm

Maximum Effort, Reynolds' production company, teamed up with Winning Wildstar Films to create this unforgettable program, which promises to leave you in stitches one minute and on the edge of your seat the next.

We caught up with executive producer Dan Rees, who spilled the beans on what it was like working with the Deadpool star. "Ryan is amazing to watch at work in the voiceover booth," he gushed. "I've never enjoyed watching a voiceover so much! He's just a very funny man."

But Reynolds wasn't content to simply deliver his lines; oh no, he brought his A-game to the table, infusing the script with his signature humor and wit. According to Rees, Ryan's riffs and ad-libs were "brilliant" and added an extra layer of excitement to the show.

The producer described listening to Ryan recording was 'like an exclusive ticket to the funniest comedy gig you could imagine'

As it turns out, Reynolds' comedic genius even influenced the post-production process! The team had to adjust their schedule to accommodate the hilarious one-liners he threw in during recording. In fact, it took days to sift through all the funny lines and figure out how to fit them into the narrative.

"Ryan was a joy to work with," Rees said, "and a really new and exciting process for us. Nobody had ever made a natural history film like this before." And we can see why - Reynolds' irreverent humor is the perfect match for the wild antics of these incredible animals.

From the moment he was brought on board, Reynolds was an integral part of the creative team, shaping the series from start to finish. "Having Ryan on board right from the beginning was massive," Rees explained. "We could really have his voice in our heads when we were developing the stories."

The producer said: 'He was a joy to work with, and a really new and exciting process for us. Nobody had ever made a natural history film in that in that way before.'

Reynolds' passion for storytelling is evident throughout the series, as he brings a unique perspective to each episode. And speaking of passion, one of the standout moments comes courtesy of a camera crew's first-ever visit to a glowing cave in New Zealand.

The cavern is home to an astonishing number of glow worms, which create illuminated fly traps using their bioluminescent mucus. To capture this phenomenon, the team had to get creative with lighting - and we mean really creative! They used "light sensitive cameras" and shone just the right shade of blue light onto the creatures.

The equipment needed was miniature too - tiny little cameras, lenses, and even cranes were deployed deep underground in waist-deep water. It's a feat that would put any special effects team to shame!

One of the episodes features the spectacular moment a camera crew has entered a special cave in New Zealand for the very first time

Reynolds' involvement isn't just limited to voiceover work; he also brought his own brand of humor to the editing room. "We actually changed the whole post-production process around the fact that he does all this fantastic riffing," Rees revealed.

So, get ready for the wildest ride on Disney+ and Nat Geo Wild! Underdogs premieres on June 18th at 9pm ET on Nat Geo Wild and streams from June 16th on Disney+. Trust us, you won't want to miss it!

Underdogs - The Must-See Documentary Event of the Summer

The cavern is home to countless glow worms and Dan described the process of capturing them when they lit up at night

Runtime: 5 episodes

Release Date: June 16 (Disney+) and June 18 (Nat Geo Wild)

Synopsis: Join Ryan Reynolds on an unforgettable journey into the secret lives of unique and weird animals from around the globe.

Getting to the fungus gnat larvae was tricky and Dan recalled: 'So our crew had to climb down to these deep ravines and sort of wade through waist deep water, deep underground through these tiny, narrow caves, lugging case after case of equipment.'

Runtime: 60 minutes per episode

Platforms: Disney+, Nat Geo Wild