David Attenborough’s got a new documentary coming out, and this one’s pretty special. In it, he takes a moment to look back at his life while showing off some seriously stunning views of our planet and oceans.
The film’s called Ocean with David Attenborough, and it’s set to hit theaters next Thursday (May 8), which also just happens to be his 99th birthday.
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It’s another one to add to his long list of iconic nature docs. You’ve probably seen Blue Planet, Planet Earth, or Africa at some point.
David Attenborough shares a deeply personal view
“When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity,” Attenborough shared.
“Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true.
“After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.”
It’s a quiet, honest moment from someone who’s seen more of the Earth than most people ever will.
His new documentary explores the crucial role of the ocean
In Ocean, he dives into the ocean’s story, showing what’s been discovered so far, why it matters more than ever, and what’s going wrong.
There’s also hope in there too. The doc doesn’t just list the problems — it points out ways marine life could bounce back if we give it a real chance.
The ocean is our greatest hope against climate change
Attenborough calls the ocean humanity’s “greatest asset against climate change,” but he doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He says,
“Today, it is in such poor health I would find it hard not to lose hope were it not for the most remarkable discovery of all.
“If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I’m sure nothing is more important.”
It’s clear he still believes we’ve got something worth fighting for.
His on-screen presence is becoming more rare
We’re not totally sure yet if he’ll show up on-screen in this one — it’s a 95-minute film, but lately, he’s been stepping back from being in front of the camera.
He used to be right there in the wild, climbing through forests and floating on boats in far-off places, but those scenes have been showing up less and less.
Travel has become both emotionally and ethically challenging
Back in 2020, he said he was pulling back on travel. Long flights were starting to wear on him, and just the idea of them made his “heart sink deeper and deeper.”
He also talked about the weird position he’s in — needing to fly to make these important documentaries, but knowing that travel adds to the very environmental damage he’s trying to fight.
Yet the pull of nature remains strong for him
Even with all that, nature still gets to him. He told Radio Times there’s something about seeing it up close that still has a “hypnotic appeal.”
It’s hard to let go of something that’s been part of your life for so long.
A global release will bring the message to a wider audience
At first, Ocean with David Attenborough will only be in theaters, but it won’t stay that way.
It’s expected to roll out worldwide later this year — on National Geographic, Disney+, and Hulu — so a lot more people will get to see it soon.
