The Natural Studios, a joint venture with Banijay, the world’s largest independent producer/distributor, today announces it has formalized a partnership with YouTube sensation, Coyote Peterson. Through this deal, the fearless wildlife documenter will collaborate with onscreen adventure star, Bear Grylls and the label’s Co-CEO, Delbert Shoopman, in creating new IP for audiences worldwide.
Peterson first landed on screens in 2014 via his YouTube channel, Brave Wilderness, which now boasts nearly 20-million subscribers. Referred to as “The King of Sting”, he became a significant figure in the wildlife space as his wildly entertaining encounters with the world’s most dangerous, and often misunderstood, species have racked up billions of views. From unfathomable interactions with stinging insects like the notorious murder hornet, to venomous bites at the merciless jaws of giant centipedes, his extreme approach has earned him a fearless reputation and a global following. Yet his work goes far beyond the extreme bites and stings, as his content cleverly boasts a rich layer of education and always embraces a powerful message for the conservation of our planet’s species. Outside the fanbase he has built, in 2015, he picked up an International Emmy Kids Award for his online series, Breaking Trail, and since 2017, has proudly held a Guinness World Record for the most-subscribed account dedicated to animals in the digital landscape.
After taking YouTube by storm, he has since gone on to be the face of Animal Planet’s internationally distributed Coyote Peterson: Brave the Wild, and has also appeared on a multitude of day and night-time talk shows including Conan, where he appeared alongside Jeff Goldblum, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and during the pandemic, stepped up for a video call with U.S. President, Joe Biden, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, to promote the vaccine programme.
Bear Grylls comments: “The Natural Studios was born from a passion for adventure and many of our strategic partnerships have been concentrated in this space. Coyote is a raw talent who has captured a global market, and he lives and breathes our sense of adventure exploration. Millions around the world have been inspired by his YouTube endeavours and this love of wildlife. Together with Del and the team, I can’t wait to see how we can bring his passion and spirit to our clients in both the US and beyond.”
Coyote Peterson comments: “Over the past decade, my team and I have worked tirelessly to be this generation’s voice for the animals of our planet. On every step of the journey, I’ve followed and have been inspired by the career that Bear has built, always dreaming that one day I would have the chance to venture alongside him. They say that with hard work, dreams come true, for me, this is that moment, the opportunity of a lifetime. No one knows mud, blood, sweat and tears better than Bear and by teaming up with The Natural Studios, we will have an unprecedented positive influence on the adventure and wildlife space for generations to come.”
Peterson and Grylls will kick off their collaboration by putting a focus into conservation. The Brave Wilderness YouTube channel just released a juggernaut episode titled The Game of Horns which is focused on the plight of Africa’s rhinoceros’ species. Lensed in the Eastern Cape, it delivers a powerful message and prompts viewers to get behind Peterson and Grylls’ “Save the Horns” fundraising initiative, which will ultimately bring greater protections to these vanishing giants.
Watch the episode and join the fight by clicking on this link: https://youtu.be/gMN4_gYjDH0.
Peterson is represented by Alex Murray of Brillstein Entertainment Partners.