Linfield expressed, “After a while, it feels like you’re showcasing the same animals to the same audience, leading to a repetitive viewing experience. We wanted to explore a fresh perspective. We started curating tales of unusual and fascinating creatures that often go overlooked — those that lack the spotlight but boast remarkable life stories and extraordinary abilities.”
A prime example is the velvet worm, highlighted in the “Superheroes” episode, known for ambushing its unsuspecting prey with a stream of slime. This not only serves as an effective hunting tactic but also acts as a defense mechanism against predators like the wolf spider.
When Linfield and Berlowitz made the decision to spotlight unheralded species with a comedic spin, they envisioned actor Ryan Reynolds as the ideal narrator—an unconventional choice compared to traditional narrators like David Attenborough. The duo fortuitously shared representation with Reynolds, leading them to create a visual teaser featuring a “stand-in” voice resembling the star’s Canadian accent. To their surprise, Reynolds was captivated by the concept upon viewing the reel and decided to record his voice for the project.
Linfield recounted, “Once he was on board, our collaboration with him and Wildstar Films began to flourish. This approach was unlike any other project we had undertaken before. It felt like a partnership from the very inception of the series.” Berlowitz acknowledged the effort in their creative team to balance scientific accuracy with humor and engaging storytelling.
Reynolds’ unique comedic style infused the series, as he adhered closely to the screenplay—crafted in part by his team—but also filled it with improvisations that sometimes strayed from traditional limits. “We didn’t fully realize the extent of his improvisational talents,” noted Berlowitz. “He tends to get into character and begins to ad-lib based on the footage. Some segments were definitely too risqué for public airing, yet snippets made it into the final edit, such as him likening an Aye-Aye to ‘the offspring of fear and panic, coated in dog fur,’ necessitating some editing to fit in smoothly.”
