Netflix and Spielberg combine for nature doc ‘Life on Our Planet’

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New Natural History Series Chronicles Earth’s Survival through Five Mass Extinction Events

“Life on Our Planet,” a compelling new natural history series backed by Steven Spielberg and streaming on Netflix, takes audiences on a mesmerizing journey through the epic tale of Earth’s existence, narrated in a binge-watchable format. The series spans eight episodes and delves into Earth’s history, exploring the drama of five previous mass extinction events using state-of-the-art computer-generated visual effects.

Narrated by the iconic Morgan Freeman, the series underscores nature’s incredible resilience over a span of 4 billion years, enduring everything from brutal ice ages to cataclysmic meteor strikes. The show vividly reimagines each mass extinction, where surviving species engage in “Game of Thrones”-like struggles for dominance—except in this case, the battles unfold among vertebrates and invertebrates or reptiles and mammals, rather than noble houses like the Starks and Lannisters.

According to showrunner Dan Tapster, the goal was to serialize the enthralling story of life itself. “I think, and I hope, that is something that we’ve achieved, which is possibly a world-first in the natural history space,” he said, referring to the series’ binge-watchable format.

“Life on Our Planet” introduces a narrative-driven element that sets it apart from traditional natural history programs. Executive producer Spielberg’s involvement influenced the inclusion of greater emotional depth and pathos, enriching the series with a more captivating narrative.

The series spotlights extraordinary, lovable underdog species that triumph against the odds and play key roles in evolution. The filmmakers meticulously selected 65 species from the staggering pool of over a billion that have gone extinct throughout Earth’s history. Each species, no matter how seemingly ordinary, leaves its mark by influencing the course of evolution.

Visual Effects Supervisor Jonathan Privett shared an insight into one of the show’s key scenes featuring the odd-looking Arandaspis fish, saying, “Arandaspis is a bit rubbish, it’s weird… But it’s in [the show], because it has a really crucial role in evolution.”

To bring the ancient past to life, “Life on Our Planet” relies on visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic (founded by George Lucas of “Star Wars” fame). These effects blend seamlessly with real backgrounds shot by the filmmakers, placing viewers within the ancient habitats of Earth’s diverse creatures.

The series also delivers a timely message. While it celebrates life’s tenacity, it doesn’t shy away from addressing the urgent challenges the planet faces. As humankind ushers in a sixth mass extinction event through its impact on Earth, the series serves as a poignant reminder of our responsibility. Alastair Fothergill, the series producer, noted the commonality among the five previous extinction events: the dominant species of that era did not survive. In a sobering message, the series emphasizes that humans are currently the dominant species overseeing the sixth mass extinction event and hold the power to halt it.

“In a strange way, there is a message of hope within that. Because not only is this the first extinction event that is being caused by a species, but we also have the ability to stop it,” added Dan Tapster.