Actor Will Smith has been announced as the presenter of the new limited event series, One Strange Rock, coming to National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220) in 2018.
Produced by filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, the 10-episode "global event series" will look at planet Earth and inside it and is being produced by Nutopia and Protozoa Pictures.
One Strange Rock is set to be broadcast globally on National Geographic from March 2018 in 172 countries.
"I am thrilled to have Will Smith on board to guide our series," says Darren Aronofsky.
"His charisma, intelligence and humanity will add greatly to the project, helping welcome viewers into this unique narrative about the mind-blowing wonders that make life on Earth possible."
One Strange Rock is the extraordinary story of Earth and why it is special and uniquely brimming with life among a largely unknown but harsh cosmic arena.
Also appearing will be a group of astronauts including Chris Hadfield, Jeff Hoffman, Mae Jemison, Jerry Linenger, Mike Massimino, Leland Melvin, Nicole Stott, and Peggy Whitson.
They will tell the story of Earth through unique perspectives and relate personal memoirs of Earth as seen from space.
"Their personal experiences are portals to vital themes explored throughout the series, including the genesis of life, death, breath, cosmic violence, human intelligence, sacrifice, terraforming and more," says National Geographic.
"By pairing the incomparable, out-of-this-world, global appeal of Will Smith with our rock-star astronauts, who literally went out of this world, we tell the incredible story of the complexities of our planet," says Tim Pastore, president for original programming and production at National Geographic.
"With the distinctive storytelling from Darren Aronofsky, One Strange Rock will be an incredible visual treat, taking audiences from the microscopic to the cosmic, leaving viewers to see and appreciate our planet as never before."
National Geographic says One Strange Rock will "reimagine factual programming and give viewers a cinematic spectacle like they have never seen before".
"We'll unpack the science behind our marvelous planet and provide stories that are entertaining and provocative".
National Geographic released the first teaser trailer for One Strange Rock on Tuesday:
