NBC is doubling down on natural history.

The network has renewed its Tom Hanks-narrated wildlife series The Americas for a second season. The Toy Story star will return to narrate the second season, which will premiere in 2028.

The Americas explored untold wildlife stories across the continent from different locations including the frozen north, the wild west, the Atlantic coast and Patagonia. The series premiered in February 2025, after having been originally handed a greenlight in 2020.

NBC claimed that The Americas reached over 36M viewers.

The second season will explore new regions and dig “deeper into the wildlife and majestic landscapes that the supercontinent has to offer”. Production is underway.

It comes ahead of a special, The Americas: A Wild 250th, which will premiere on NBC on July 2, and The Americas: Mother’s Day, which will air in 2027.

It is produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio. It is exec produced by Mike Gunton and nominated Holly Spearing.

“We’re thrilled to bring The Americas back into viewers’ homes, taking them on a journey that reveals even more of the extraordinary worlds, iconic landscapes and remarkable wildlife that make North and South America so compelling — all while blending breathtaking scale, discovery, humor and heart,” said Sharon Vuong, EVP, Unscripted Programming, NBC. “With Tom Hanks’ distinctive voice behind the awe-inspiring visuals and with our partners at UTAS and BBC Studios Natural History Unit, season two is poised to deliver even further on the series’ commitment to unique storytelling and bold explorations of the natural world.

Mike Gunton, Creative Director of BBC Studios Natural History Unit added, “Working on The Americas was absolutely exhilarating – being able to bring the breath-taking landscapes and unique wildlife of this extraordinary ‘super-continent’ to life was a truly inspiring experience. There are so many more stories to tell and places to explore – we can’t wait to get started on [season] two. We’re thrilled to continue our exciting partnership with NBC and Universal Television Alternative Studio, and of course having Tom Hanks back on board again is the icing on the cake.”  

“The Americas was a bold bet – a cinematic natural history series of this scale hadn’t been seen on broadcast television in years, and thankfully, audiences embraced it in a huge way,” said Toby Gorman, President, Universal Television Alternative Studio. “The success of season one gives us the opportunity to dream even bigger for season two, expanding the scope, pushing the filmmaking to new heights, and deepening the emotional connection viewers found with the series. We’re proud to continue our partnership with NBC, BBC Studios Natural History Unit, and Tom Hanks as we bring this next chapter to life.”