A sloth carefully searches for its next meal in a preview clip for NatGeo’s upcoming docuseries Hostile Planet. Hosted by Bear Grylls, Hostile Planet is a six-part event that takes a look at how various animals around the world have adapted to their harsh environments, continuously battling for survival. Each installment explores a unique habitat, with the first episode (airing today, April 1) showcasing the mountains.
Sloths are one species featured prominently during Hostile Planet’s run, a series that take an unprecedented approach to its intense visual storytelling thanks in part due to Oscar-winning cinematographer Guillermo Navarro serving as Executive Producer. Sloths primarily call the rainforests of South and Central America home and are known for their slow movements (a characteristic that was lampooned in Disney’s 2016 film Zootopia). As viewers await the full episode, they can check out a portion of the sloth’s day in a new clip that’s been released.
NatGeo shared the video as an exclusive to Screen Rant. In it, a female sloth moves precariously between trees as it looks for some food. However, there are dangers lurking that the sloth needs to keep an eye out for. Check out the clip in the space below:
This is cut almost like a slow-burn suspense film, where viewers become increasingly concerned about the sloth’s wellbeing. The shot of the crocodile peering out from the water is particularly ominous, setting up a life-or-death situation where the sloth needs to brave the depths and risk becoming prey. All in all, this is a very effective teaser for Hostile Planet and helps audiences get a better idea of what they can expect when the full series launches. If this is indicative of the series’ tone, the show will be very engaging - even if one isn’t a wildlife aficionado. Its stories of survival and hardships might be more dramatic than most films that hit theaters this year.
NatGeo looks to have a winner here, and hopefully people decide to tune in when Hostile Planet airs. One aspect that makes this so promising is the sheer variety of environments that’ll be covered, ensuring each installment has its unique look and feel. Of course, they all have their own set of animals and it’ll be interesting to see everything from a slot to a mountain lion (highlighted on the premiere mountain episode) in action as they try to persevere and live on for another day. Filmed with “innovative camera technology,” Hostile Planet promises to be a cinematic experience that’s unlike anything this realm of television has seen before.
More: Read Screen Rant’s Hostile Planet Review
Hostile Planet premieres on NatGeo on April 1, 2019.
Source: NatGeo
