Netflix used a press event at its Los Angeles studio lot Monday morning to announce the launch of a new interactive family show. “You vs. Wild,” which will debut April 10, is an eight-episode show starring survival expert Bear Grylls.
Viewers will be able to show Grylls on expeditions around the world, and have a chance to choose the course of the story in each episode. The show has been directed by Ben Simms, and counts Bear Grylls, Chris Grant, Drew Buckley, Ben Silverman, Howard Owens, Rob Buchta and Delbert Shoopman among its executive producers. Production companies for the show are Electus and Bear Grylls Ventures.
“I’m so proud to deliver this first-of-its-kind live-action interactive series, really giving viewers an all access pass to explore the world and its landscapes in my boots,” Grylls said in a statement. “The stakes are high in this one!”
The announcement was made by Netflix original series VP Cindy Holland during a panel about the future of storytelling. Holland said interactive content was still a bit of an experiment for the company. “It’s still in the evaluation and growing stage,” she said.
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Netflix launched its first interactive shows in June of 2017, and at the time squarely targeted kids with “Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale” and “Buddy Thunderstruck: The Maybe Pile.” The company followed up with an interactive “Minecraft” show produced by Telltale Games.
It first veered into interactive content for grown-ups in late December: “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch” was a standalone movie based on the “Black Mirror” franchise that was a lot more complex than its previous kids interactives, complete with alternate endings, soundtracks and even loops that allowed viewers the chance of do-overs.
VP of product Todd Yellin said Monday the company wasn’t sure what to expect from “Bandersnatch.” “We didn’t know how it would go,” he said. Ultimately, the response was overwhelmingly positive. “The internet exploded with conversation and delight,” Yellin said.
