Angel Shaw is a New TV Lead Writer with ScreenRant who knows far too much about the worlds of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings.
Will Smith's new Disney+ series, Pole to Pole with Will Smith, is a smash hit, establishing a fresh trend for the actor. Documentaries are a new avenue for Smith, who kicked off his acting career with sit-coms before expanding into theatrical comedies and dramas.
He quickly proved he could deliver outstanding performances as a wide variety of characters, but documentaries require actors to be entirely themselves without stealing from the project's central subject. As it is, Smith has a talent for it. Pole to Pole sees Smith travel from one side of the planet to the next with a team of scientists and explorers. As he does, the actor speaks to locals, takes part in daring feats, and presents a variety of perspectives and experiences to audiences. While docuseries like this can be hit or miss, Pole to Pole is trending at #4 on Disney+ and has earned itself a rare perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. It's quite an achievement, and Smith has now struck gold twice. Will Smith's Pole To Pole Success Follows Up His Hit 2021 Docuseries The success of Pole to Pole is even more impressive when you consider that Smith has another 100% RT-score docuseries on Disney+. Released in 2021, Welcome to Earth follows Smith as he explores some of the most remote and unexplored locations on the planet. Like Pole to Pole, the series gives audiences a chance to see things they never would have otherwise, and Smith absolutely shines. Documentaries Provide A New Way For Will Smith To Shine Smith is a leading man through and through, and he always has been. He's not an actor who had to work his way up from extra or minor parts to a starring role. Beginning with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air onward, the attention has always been on him. Naturally, this has given Smith a certain reputation. Those at the center of attention often behave accordingly. Pole to Pole and Welcome to Earth gave us a different viewpoint on this actor. It's obvious Smith has a real knack for this type of project, and, interestingly, this has everything to do with how he presents these experiences to viewers. Smith is a curious and enthusiastic guide, but he consistently steps back and allows the planet's features and cultures to take the spotlight. He isn't greedy for attention, but instead creates an engaging and authentic experience. Join the newsletter to follow Will Smith’s doc renaissance Subscribe to the newsletter for focused coverage and analysis of Will Smith's documentary turn and wider film trends, curated perspectives that illuminate what these projects reveal about modern documentary filmmaking. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. It's refreshing to see this sort of presentation from Smith. Given the five-year trend created by the success of these documentaries, we can almost certainly expect more to come. Leading roles may always be Smith's jive, but Welcome to Earth and Pole to Pole are an intriguing shift. Pole to Pole with Will Smith 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Documentary Adventure Nature Release Date January 13, 2026 Network National Geographic Cast
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