The Americas Pulls Back The Nature Docuseries Curtain With a Making-Of Special (WATCH)
The Americas released a trailer for its making of special coming to NBC and Peacock.
How was The Americas brought to life? That's a question almost everyone asks when they watch an episode of the series and now NBC has your answer.
The hit nature docuseries, currently airing on NBC, required a total of 180 expeditions in some of the most extreme locations on the planet across a period of five years — not to mention a lengthy recording stint with Academy Award-winning narrator Tom Hanks. Audiences will get to go behind-the-scenes of the show next month with a making-of special coming exclusively to NBC and Peacock.
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Even Hanks, who has been working in the film business for nearly half a century, couldn't quite work out how some of the shots were achieved. The actor admits as much in the official trailer for The Making of The Americas (debuting April 20 on NBC before heading to Peacock).
"What's the shooting schedule?" he asks. "How much footage do you take? What lenses do you bring along? It is a steady parade of, 'Holy cow! Oh my God! How did they capture this on film?!'"
While he's usually the one to receive top-billing, the acclaimed Hollywood A-lister is more than happy to place the spotlight on the real celebrities behind the show's production, who braved harsh climates (pouring rain, blazing heat, etc.) and logistical hurdles (ever tried to mount a camera on the back of a sperm whale?) to realize such an ambitious project.
Watch the official trailer for The Making of The Americas
When does The Making of The Americas premiere?
The making-of special will air on NBC Sunday, April 20 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT before making its way to Peacock the following day.
"Narrator Tom Hanks and the crew will reveal perils and breakthroughs behind the lens of this milestone nature series — trekking through corrosive waters 14,000 feet up in the Andes to film flamingos, weathering Amazonian lightning storms, forging bonds between a wild puma and its longtime cameraman, and pioneering cinematography from cameras mounted on the back of a whales," reads the official synopsis. "The special will explore the dedication, fieldcraft, humor, heart and innovation that came together to create one of the most ambitious wildlife series ever produced."
How to watch The Americas
New episodes of The Americas air on NBC every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT. The remaining three installments include "The Caribbean" (March 30), "The West Coast" (April 6), and "Patagonia" (April 13).
Episodes 1-7 are now streaming exclusively on Peacock: "The Atlantic Coast," "Mexico," "The Wild West," "The Amazon," "The Frozen North," "The Gulf Coast," and "The Andes."
Per NBC, The Americas "ranks as the most-watched new alternative show of the 2024-25 season to date, averaging 5 million viewers for its regularly scheduled episodes. The series has reached 23 million viewers across platforms to-date and stands as the most-watched nature documentary on linear television in more than 15 years."
