My Octopus Teacher director James Reed to helm Netflix’s Colin O’Brady documentary, details explored

Netflix has greenlit a new documentary about renowned explorer and endurance athlete Colin O'Brady, directed by James Reed, who won the Oscar for My Octopus Teacher.

The film will document O'Brady's greatest adventure to date: an all-unsupported single-person 2,000-mile foot journey across Antarctica in November 2025 as the most extreme and perilous human endurance achievement ever recorded on film, according to Tudum by Netflix.

Aligning with Netflix’s current push into prestige adventure and survival nonfiction, this documentary stands out for the inventive direction of James Reed, whose work has earned international acclaim.

The upcoming film not only chronicles O’Brady’s journey but also delves into his family background, motivations, and past record-breaking achievements. The direction by Reed is anticipated to be a combination of the most breathtaking shots of Antarctica, which echoes the style of balanced, intimate narration that made My Octopus Teacher so popular.

Netflix, James Reed, and Colin O’Brady: Inside the new Antarctica expedition documentary

The new Netflix documentary by James Reed accompanies Colin O'Brady on his quest to attempt an unprecedented solo, unsupported on-foot journey across nearly 2,000 miles of Antarctic wilderness.

In November 2025, O'Brady will traverse the icy expanse of the continent from water's edge to water's edge, pulling a 500-pound sled laden entirely with his supplies and equipment for an estimated 110-day trek over the ice shelves and into the heart of the continent, without supply drops or outside assistance.

As reported by Tudum:

“From minus 60 Fahrenheit temperatures and katabatic winds (gravity-driven blasts of icy air that can reach hurricane force) to sastrugi (hard, wind-carved snow ridges that batter sleds) and hidden crevasses, the perilous journey will play out for the world to see.”

The film will alternate between real-time footage of the expedition and an exploration of O'Brady's life, philosophy, as well as the psychology of extreme endurance expeditions. Interestingly, this Transantarctic Crossing will be among the longest ever attempted without supplemental oxygen assistance, increasing risk and tension.

James Reed brings his signature style, blending sweeping landscapes with intimate human exploration, ensuring the film captures the inward journey as vividly as the outward challenges.

The production team for the film consists of producer Callum Webster and executive producers James Reed and Matt Houghton under Underdog Films. Netflix's clear objective is self-evident: to provide the film as the crossroads between adventure narrative storytelling and character-based documentary.

In a conversation with Tudum, Reed states:

“Colin is an exceptional athlete, there’s no doubt about that, but I want to find out who he is as a person and what really drives him. One thing that really drives my curiosity is that I genuinely don’t understand how he is going to complete this Antarctic crossing — it’s further than anyone has gone before and twice as far as he went last time, pulling much more weight. It just seems impossible to me, and I’m fascinated to see what happens. I think the rest of the world will be too.”

The creative legacy of James Reed: From My Octopus Teacher to Antarctica

The directing resume of James Reed features the critical and box office hit My Octopus Teacher, which he co-directed with Pippa Ehrlich. The 2020 Netflix Original won the Academy Award, the BAFTA, and several Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards because of its heartfelt approach to storytelling and camera intimacy

My Octopus Teacher recounts the true story of filmmaker Craig Foster, who, in the midst of personal distress, begins an everyday free-diving practice in the cold, submerged kelp forests off Cape Town, South Africa. During the course of the year, Foster develops an intimate, highly emotional connection with an unnamed wild common octopus he encounters in this ecosystem.

Chronicling their evolving bond in precise detail over the course of the year, the film documents how the interactions begin with the octopus's wary behavior and evolve to playful times as well as trusting intimacy when she invites the diver into her secret, submerged realm.

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My Octopus Teacher follows stunning events, such as the octopus employing innovative camouflage and bold movements to evade predators, including pajama sharks. In an epic confrontation, she loses an arm due to a shark attack, but then, months later, grows back the arm.

Foster sees the patterns of vulnerability and recovery and parallels them with his own search for meaning and cure. What the bond also provides for Foster is a new appreciation for the higher-order intelligence and problem-solving capacity of the octopuses.

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