Rhys Darby (“Flight of the Concords,” “Our Flag Means Death,” “Jumanji“) will narrate the next big competition series at Peacock. The NBC streaming service is doing a reality series that follows the infamous “Fat Bear Week” tournament!
“The Hungry Games: Alaska’s Big Bear Challenge” will be a three-part series. This will be Peacock’s first ever wildlife reality competition, and will focus on the famous Fat Bear Week Tournament held by Katmai National Park and Preserve in south Alaska. This show will be Rhys narrating while the bears battle the elements. During the three-part series Rhys will be giving color commentary as well as telling the audience some amazing bear facts.
The Fat Bear Week tournament is a popular event usually held online, and starts in October. People vote for their favorite bears while the bears are getting ready to hibernate. Before bears hibernate, they pack on the pounds by eating tons so that they can comfortably sleep through the harsh winter. Sounds to me like these bears found a great way to battle seasonal depression!
Every October, Katmai National Park hosts Fat Bear Week, a week-long tournament featuring the park’s resident bears. This engaging event invites participants to cheer on their favored bears as they feast on the park’s abundant sockeye salmon in preparation for their winter hibernation.
During summer and autumn, these bears can amass up to 500 pounds, bolstering their reserves as they gear up for the hibernation period. Hibernation, a process which triggers a state of suspended animation, can result in the bears losing up to a third of their weight during the frigid winter months.
In 2021, Katmai National Park introduced a sister contest, Fat Bear Junior, a competition specifically for the park’s bear cubs. By 2023, this unique tournament had attracted a staggering 1.3 million participants from all corners of the globe. This captivating competition not only piques the interest of a worldwide audience but also, and more importantly, it helps to spotlight the park’s commitment to conservation efforts.
“The Hungry Games: Alaska’s Big Bear Challenge” is borne out of the collaborative efforts of Love Nature and Ample Entertainment. Alison Barrat and James Manfull serve as the executive producers, representing Love Nature. On the other hand, Ari Mark, Phil Lott, and David Brown are the dedicated executive producers for Ample Entertainment.
We’ll let you know what we hear about a possible release date.
