Will Smith Endlessly Prayed To Survive Icy Near-Death Experience On Disney’s Daring Adventure Show

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Will Smith shares a story about a near-death experience while filming his new documentary series, Pole to Pole with Will Smith. The National Geographic show, coming to Disney+ worldwide and Hulu in the U.S. on January 13th, follows Smith on a 100-day journey through some of the world’s most challenging environments, where he faces numerous obstacles.

Will Smith shared a scary story on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon about a near-disaster while filming the last episode of Pole to Pole. He was scuba diving under thick ice at the North Pole when his mask almost came off, potentially trapping him underwater.

Smith described a scuba diving experience at the North Pole. They dove under the ice, which was sometimes as thick as 10 feet. Swimming about 40 yards out, Smith said the underside of the ice looked like an inverted mountain range.

Smith recalls the moment everything went wrong: “We sank, and I started hearing ‘Abort dive! Abort dive! Abort!'” He realized immediately they were in trouble. “I tried to surface, but I hit ice and ended up trapped underneath it. I told myself, ‘Will, stay calm, calm down.’ Luckily, I was attached with a tether, so I had to pull myself back to the opening in the ice.”

Smith explained that he fumbled with his oxygen mask, accidentally pulling it off. He quickly put it back on, and in a moment of panic, vowed that if he survived, he would focus solely on supporting Black creators and content from then on, making a promise to God.

Smith explained that he immediately felt the rope pull him back, assuring him he was safe. He described a sudden shift from intense fear to a profoundly beautiful and spiritual experience. He recalled being bathed in sunlight filtering through the ice and desperately hoping whoever was managing the rope wouldn’t let go.

Beyond his trip to the North Pole, Will Smith’s series Pole to Pole takes him on adventures to incredible places like the Amazon rainforest (where he faces an anaconda!), the Himalayas, Pacific Islands, and the Kalahari Desert. Each episode involves some level of risk, excitement, or learning as Smith teams up with scientists and other experts to explore and reveal fascinating facts about nature.

Viewers are really enjoying Pole to Pole, as it currently has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, this is based on just 9 reviews, so the score could change. While critics seem to love it, the audience score on Popcornmeter is 68%, indicating a more mixed reaction from general viewers.

Even so, Pole to Pole quickly became popular on Disney+ and Hulu, reaching the top 10 charts in countries like Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, and Switzerland. The show has seven episodes, and it’s currently unclear if there will be a second season.

Beyond his adventurous expeditions, Will Smith is working on several upcoming films, including a sequel to I Am Legend and a remake of Planes, Trains and Automobiles with Kevin Hart. He’s also hinted that another Hancock movie is being planned.

All episodes of Pole to Pole with Will Smith are now available on Hulu and Disney+.

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2026-01-21 23:08