The underdogs of the animal world: Ryan Reynolds recounts nature's outsiders

Ryan Reynolds lends his voice to the animal series The Underdogs of the Animal World, an original Disney+/National Geographic documentary produced by Wildstar Films.

The documentary series The Underdogs of the Animal World, voiced by Ryan Reynolds in the original version, offers an offbeat dive into the fascinating world of the least-known animal species. Produced by Maximum Effort, the actor's production company, and Wildstar Films, a subsidiary of Fremantle, this original creation will be offered on Disney+ and National Geographic. With humor and pedagogy, it highlights the hidden talents of animals often overlooked in classic documentaries. Each episode focuses on a specific theme, exploring unexpected behaviors, surprising abilities or singular survival strategies. Ryan Reynolds explains that he wanted to show his children an "all-ages" project, in contrast to his more adult roles in Deadpool or Wolverine.

Where and when can you see The Underdogs of the Animal World?

Underdogs of the Animal World will be broadcast on Disney+ from June 16, 2025 and on National Geographic from June 22, 2025.

A dynamic trailer powered by Green Day

The trailer for the series draws attention not only with its humor and spectacular images, but also with the presence of an original song by Green Day. The track Underdog, taken from the collector's edition of the Saviors album, accompanies the images with a quirky rock energy. The series' original score is by Harry Gregson-Williams, known for his work on Shrek, Alone on Mars and Gladiator 2.

A five-part series, each focusing on a different theme

The series is structured into five episodes, each dealing with a specific aspect of the lives of these outsiders: their social behavior, reproduction, hygiene, camouflage and survival techniques. The narrative approach favors contrasts between the usual stars of animal documentaries - elephants, lions or whales - and more unexpected creatures such as the ratel, the glass frog or the pistol shrimp.

Synopsis: This documentary series explores the original and often little-known survival strategies of atypical animals. Narrated by Ryan Reynolds, it celebrates the eccentricity and resilience of creatures little represented in mainstream documentaries.

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A project for families and nature lovers

The Underdogs of the Animal World is aimed primarily at families, children and fans of animal documentaries looking for an original approach. With its accessible, offbeat tone, the series could appeal to viewers accustomed to National Geographic or BBC Earth productions, but also to those who appreciated the humor of Welcome to Wrexham or the world of Free Guy. Its narrative style could recall the documentaries commented on by David Attenborough, but in a much more contemporary and humorous tone.

What we know about production

The episodes were shot by cinematographers specializing in wildlife films. The project is co-produced by Wildstar Films and Maximum Effort for National Geographic. The production team includes names already associated with renowned projects, such as Mark Linfield and Vanessa Berlowitz, while Ryan Reynolds is actively involved as narrator and executive producer. The series is designed to blend science, entertainment and family storytelling. It highlights the ecological usefulness and fascinating behaviors of often overlooked species.

The essentials on The underdogs of the animal world

The Underdogs of the Animal World is a five-part animal documentary series featuring little-known species often excluded from the spotlight. Narrated by Ryan Reynolds in the original version, and produced by Wildstar Films and Maximum Effort, it stands out for its humorous, accessible tone. Available on Disney+ and National Geographic, it is aimed at all audiences curious to discover nature from a new angle.

This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.

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