Why Tom Hanks Was Ready to Be 'on the Front Line' of His New DocuseriesThe Americas: 'TV at Its Absolute Best' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Tom Hanksis ready to help shine a light on Earth’s natural beauty throughThe Americas.

The series, filmed over five years and 180 expeditions, is divided into hour-long episodes that examine different terrain across the Americas, including the Atlantic Coast, Mexico, Wild West, Amazon, Frozen North, Gulf Coast, Andes, Caribbean, West Coast, and Patagonia.

“It’s an hour of discovery. You will be enthralled, enlightened, educated and — foremost — entertained,” Hanks tells PEOPLE about the show that promises to “deliver remarkable world firsts,” including “new species, new intimate courtship, dramatic deep sea hunting and some of nature’s strangest stories.”

Tom Hanks for ‘The Americas’.Austin Hargrave/NBC

Austin Hargrave/NBC

Hanks tells PEOPLE that the show is special because it contains “no CGI,” noting, “Nothing in here has been created inside the magic of the camera, absolutely nothing at all.”

TheHerestar says that the best part about the show, which features extraordinary animals, including a wandering salamander, is the opportunity to watch “creatures of all ages playing.”

Sand tiger shark cruising through the ‘Graveyard of the Atlantic’ off the coast of North Carolina.Tanya Houppermans/BBC Studios

Tanya Houppermans/BBC Studios

“That’s my favorite part ofThe Americas— seeing how often all creatures great and small play, occupy their time, keep themselves entertained. Carefree youngsters — cubs, otters, pups, chicks, owls — learning how to do whatever they do for the first time,” he says. “It seems like all of creation seeks some form of contact, affection, and togetherness that is undeniably a part of their behavior.”

The opportunity to highlight them is something Hanks could not pass out on.

“I knew that I would be learning an awful lot. I wanted to be on the front line. I feel lucky to be a part of this extraordinary project - of capturing something that is so real that it’s irrefutable to anybody who watches it. And it’s just glorious to be a part of that,” he adds.

Black bear mother and cub.Chris Norcott/NBC/BBC Studios

Chris Norcott/NBC/BBC Studios

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The Americaspremieres with two back-to-back episodes on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

source: people.com