Chris Hemsworth (Thor) will act as host and executive producer on a new series being developed by National Geographic called Shark Beach, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Shark Beach is set to headline Nat Geo’s SharkFest in the summer of 2021.
Shark Beach will dive into the problems surrounding increases in shark attacks around Australia while also raising awareness of the different preventative measures and innovations in technology that are being designed to preserve the coexistence of both sharks and people. As a native of Australia, Hemsworth describes this opportunity as a way to not only understand sharks more deeply, but also to help dispel the common misconceptions people have about these fearsome oceanic creatures.
The Hollywood Reporter gave this response from Hemsworth: “I’ve spent a great deal of my life near or in the ocean, sharing the same backyard with sharks, and recently there’s been some growing concern regarding an increase in shark activity. It’s crucial that we both revere and respect sharks. Our oceans depend on these apex predators for a biodiverse ecosystem; however, we must also learn how to protect ourselves, and that’s my main objective in Shark Beach.”
Executive VP of global unscripted entertainment at National Geographic, Geoff Daniels, also commented on Hemsworth involvement with the project – as also seen via The Hollywood Reporter: “Sharkfest has become the port of call for A-list scientists and filmmakers who share our passion for sharks and the health of the planet’s oceans. In success, we’re also drawing in celebrity thought leaders who have the power to raise awareness and impact behavior through their incredible social platforms, that’s why I couldn’t be more excited about Shark Beach and our latest collaboration with Chris Hemsworth. He’s a fearless defender of nature with a proven commitment to conservation and has an unrivaled willingness to do whatever it takes to help protect sharks for generations to come.”
Shark Beach will be produced for National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild by Nutopia. Chris Hemsworth and Ben Grayson (Extraction) are executive producers. For Nutopia, Jane Root (The World According to Jeff Goldblum), Arif Nurmohamed (One Strange Rock) and Mark Hedgecoe (The Gamechangers) will act as executive producers. Tracy Rudolph Jackson (Mythbusters) will executive produce for National Geographic, while Daniels will act as executive vice president, global unscripted entertainment.
Image Credit: Raymond Flotat