On Wednesday, National Geographic held an exclusive early screening at the Lincoln Center in New York City for their new upcoming 10-Part series “One Strange Rock.”
Hosted by Will Smith, the series gives an inside look, and an outside look from space, on how life on Earth is sustained and continues to thrive. Traveling across 6 continents and 45 countries, National Geographic explores how various people and countries from all over the world are environmentally connected. The 10-part series includes narrations from famous astronauts such as Chris Hadfield, Mae Jemison, who is the first African American woman to travel in space, Peggy Whitson, who currently holds the record for the most days in space. Will Smith was not the only familiar face in the star-studded series as it also includes cameos from other celebrities like actress Bridget Moynahan from Blue Bloods, actor David Harbour from the popular Netflix Series Stranger Things and Phylicia Rashad.
Peggy Whitson holding the March issue of National Geographic magazine.
We got spoke with Peggy Whitson, who is currently the face of the March issue of National Geographic magazine, about her role in the film. “My episode that I’m featured in… is about coming home and our planet is home,” she explains. When asked if anything shown in the series would be shocking to some, Whitson said “I think the thing you’ll be shocked about is how interconnected all the systems are on earth and what that really, truly means to life on earth. That will be something that people walk away with and say ‘Wow, that’s really special.'”
Whitson also spoke to us about her experience of being in space for more than two years, something that no other astronaut has done before. “It’s an amazing experience, adapting to an environment that is absolutely different than this one. Everything on earth is based on gravity… and to adapt to a completely new environment where that rule doesn’t apply is a really interesting experience from a personal perspective.”
The first episode of the 10-part series is fascinating and quickly will quickly grab your attention instantly. National Geographic gives a behind the scenes view of what most of us have only seen in pictures, in some of the most hidden and most popular places from across the globe. When discussing what the audience can expect from the new series, executive producer Darren Aronofsky said “it is the tip of the iceberg. Every episode… your eyes will be lit up and you will learn something no matter how learned in science you are. There is always something there to take away.”
An after party followed the screening, filled with complimentary drinks, food, music and astronauts on stilts juggling neon lights. One Strange Rock premieres on March 26th at 10/9c on the National Geographic channel. It is executive produced by Jane Root and her production company Nutopia.
