How to watch 'Pole to Pole with Will Smith' — TV and streaming details as Oscar-winning actor blends adventure and scientific discovery

Will Smith on an expedition in Pole to Pole
(Image credit: Disney)

"Pole to Pole with Will Smith," which is released this week (Jan. 13), promises "a thrilling adventure," and Live Science is here with all the TV and streaming details.

How to watch "Pole to Pole with Will Smith" — Quick Guide

Premieres: January 13 at 9pm ET on National Geographic (US)

TV: National Geographic (US & UK)

Stream: Disney+ (International, from January 14)

Anywhere: Get 70% off NordVPN

The series aims to blend personal adventure with scientific discovery, while helping various field scientists undertake research.

How to watch "Pole to Pole with Will Smith" in the U.S.

"Pole to Pole with Will Smith" premieres in the U.S. on National Geographic and will be available to stream on Disney+.

The first two episodes will air from 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on Tuesday Jan. 13 on TV. Then, on Jan. 14, all seven episodes will be available to stream in one go on Disney+.

Image

You can get access to Disney+ from $11.99/month for the ad-supported service, or you can go ad-free for $18.99/month.

Premium (No Ads, Downloads) for $18.99/month or $189.99/year

How to watch "Pole to Pole with Will Smith" in the U.K.

"Pole to Pole with Will Smith" will also air on the National Geographic TV channel and the Disney+ streaming platform in the U.K.

The premiere is a day later than the U.S. release, landing on Jan. 14 at 8 p.m. GMT. All seven episodes will be available to stream on Disney+ for U.K. subscribers from Jan. 14.

Image

Disney+ plans start from £5.99/month for ad-supported streaming, or you could strip out ads for £9.99/month.

Watch "Pole to Pole with Will Smith" from anywhere

If you're travelling abroad you can access your usual streaming services from anywhere, thanks to a VPN.

A VPN, or virtual private network, is a piece of internet security software that can alter your device's digital location, unlocking the geo-restrictions on most streaming platforms.

Our expert colleagues at TechRadar rate NordVPN as the best VPN. Not only is it great for unblocking streaming services, it has top-level security features, a reasonable price tag and, right now, a big discount.

Get 70% off NordVPN

Get 70% off NordVPN


🥇 World's best VPN service
✅ Fast, secure, huge location list
🤝 30-day money-back guarantee

"Pole to Pole with Will Smith": Trailer

Pole to Pole with Will Smith | Official Trailer | National Geographic - YouTube Pole to Pole with Will Smith | Official Trailer | National Geographic - YouTube
Watch On

What to expect from "Pole to Pole with Will Smith": Synopsis

"Pole to Pole with Will Smith" is a seven-episode documentary series in which the Oscar-winning actor Will Smith travels to several continents in search of adventure and scientific discovery.

We can expect "cutting-edge science, environmental storytelling, and bold exploration", according to a Disney statement.

The first episode is based in the South Pole and sees Smith ski and trek across giant ice fields, while the series ends at the North Pole with Smith helping polar ecologist Allison Fong capture scientific samples beneath the ice.

In between, there are a pair of episodes in the Amazon, where venom is extracted from a giant tarantula and a single scale removed from a 17-foot (5 meters) green anaconda. There are also visits to Pacific islands threatened by rising seas, high-altitude villages in the Himalayas, and the inhospitable plains of the Kalahari Desert.

"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," Smith said in the statement. "From the coldest ice to the deepest jungles, the beauty of our world inspired my every step with awe and hope."

The series, said to be five years in the making, is produced by Westbrook Studios, Nutopia and Protozoa for National Geographic and Disney+.

"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 at 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."

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Patrick manages How To Watch content across Future's portfolio of Knowledge and Sports publications, helping to bring readers all the information they need to watch the best shows and live events across TV and streaming. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with a decade of experience in digital media.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.