Will Smith Reveals Near-Death Experience During Daring North Pole Dive for New Travel Series

So, here's a headline you probably didn't expect: Will Smith is out there almost dying under the North Pole for a Disney+ travel show. Yep, the 'Bad Boys' star who also saved the world in 'Men in Black' is apparently putting himself at way more real risk than any of his movie stunts. And honestly? After hearing these details, I think I'll stick to watching the nature docs from my couch, thanks.

Under the Ice With Will Smith (Because Sure, Why Not)

While swinging by 'The Tonight Show' to chat with Jimmy Fallon, Smith casually dropped the kind of story that would make most people swear off water forever. As part of his Disney+ series 'Pole to Pole With Will Smith', he went scuba diving under the actual ice at the North Pole. No, not a set or a soundstage—actual, potentially-lethal Arctic ice.

Smith describes it like this: 'We did a dive under the ice. The ice itself? Could be up to 10 feet thick.' They got about 40 yards away from their entry point under what he called an 'upside-down ice mountain range.' Pretty? Maybe. Terrifying? Absolutely.

What Could Go Wrong (Spoiler: A Lot)

By this point, you might be thinking, 'Hey, he's with pros—it'll be fine.' Well, not so fast. Suddenly, Smith starts hearing 'Abort dive! Abort dive! Abort!' through his earpiece. He tries to surface... and slams right into the underside of the ice. If that's not panic-inducing, I don't know what is.

At this point, he remembers he's got a safety line—just pull yourself back to the exit hole, right? Except while doing that, he ends up yanking his mask off. That's nightmare fuel for anyone, but especially when you're surrounded by a freezing, airless expanse.

'I was like, "If I get out of here, I'm only gonna do Black stuff from here on out. I promise Lord! African American behavior from here on out!"'

That's Smith, who somehow manages to keep his sense of humor even while nearly freezing to death. He did get his mask back on and forced himself to relax—which, to his credit, turned everything around. Suddenly, with sunlight streaming through the ice, he describes the moment as flipping from total terror to something almost spiritual. Still, makes you think twice about accepting a Disney+ gig.

Just in Case That Wasn't Enough: There Was Also an Anaconda

Think the Arctic's wild? Wait for the Amazon. Smith shared an equally wild story from South America: while hanging with local tribes (yep, apparently lacking any concern for modesty or safety), he's floating down the river and the group spots an anaconda. The locals—just to make everyone else feel inadequate—immediately leap out of the boat and swim right for the snake.

• North Pole: Under-ice diving, panic-inducing close calls, and existential reflection
• Amazon: Shirtless anaconda encounters—with the locals diving in, apparently without a second thought

In summary: Will Smith is 57 years old, living out what sounds like the most extreme episode of 'Man vs. Wild' ever filmed by a Hollywood superstar. We can all appreciate a good nature program, but personally? I'll leave playing tag with anacondas and dodging icy death traps to people a lot braver—and a lot more famous—than me.

'Pole to Pole With Will Smith' is coming to Disney+, so you can catch all his near-death adventures from the comfort of your blanket fort. Frankly, that's the only safe way to do it.