Hans Zimmer, Kara Talve, and Anže Rozman composed the soundtrack. It is the first major dinosaur-focused documentary series produced by the BBC since Planet Dinosaur in 2011, and the third overall (the first was Walking with Dinosaurs in 1999, produced by the BBC Studios Science Unit).[3][4][5]Prehistoric Planet received critical acclaim for its visual effects, depiction of dinosaurs, and Attenborough's narration.
Premise
A documentary that follows dinosaurs recreated with computer-generated imagery living around the globe in the Late Cretaceous period, 66 million years ago. It set out to depict dinosaurs using current palaeontological research such as feathered dinosaurs.
Production
According to palaeontologist and consultant Steve Brusatte, the series had been in development "a decade" prior to its trailer release.[6] On May 8, 2019, it was first reported by Deadline that Apple had ordered a new documentary series by BBC Studios titled Prehistoric Planet, to be executively produced by Jon Favreau.[7] An original score was composed by Kara Talve, Anže Rozman and Hans Zimmer.[8]
After its release, the series consultants other than Darren Naish were revealed to be Steve Brusatte, Alexander Farnsworth, Kiersten Formoso, Michael Habib, Scott Hartman, John R. Hutchinson, Luke Muscutt, Peter Skelton, Robert Spicer, Paul Valdes and Mark Witton.[11]David Krentz, the director of Dinosaur Revolution and character designer on Disney's Dinosaur, was also revealed to have been involved in the creature development and design.[12]
In March 2023, Apple renewed the series for a second season, which began airing on 22 May 2023.[13] A spin-off, called Prehistoric Planet Immersive which features Apple Vision Pro, began airing on 2 February 2024.
Marketing
A first sneak peek was posted to the official Apple TV+ YouTube channel on April 2, 2022, along with a trailer, with a May 23 airdate set for the first episode.[14] A ten-second teaser was released on April 19, 2022, followed by an official trailer the following day.[15] A second trailer was released on May 19, 2022, in the lead up to the show's premiere.[16]
The teaser of the second season was uploaded to the official Apple TV+ YouTube channel on April 18, 2023.[17] The official trailer was released on May 2, 2023.[18]
A father Tyrannosaurus and his offspring swim across a perilous seaway to feed on a dead giant turtle. Alcione hatchlings take their first flight through a gauntlet of predatory pterosaurs, Barbaridactylus and Phosphatodraco, while Tethydraco nestle their brood on the shores below. Tuarangisaurus travel to a bay in search of gastroliths. A male Mosasaurus is cleaned by reef denizens and defends his territory from a younger rival. Scaphitidammonites perform an elaborate mating display. A pregnant Tuarangisaurus is targeted by Kaikaifilu and protected by her pod, after which she gives birth to a healthy baby.
Several male Dreadnoughtus clash for the right to mate. A pair of Velociraptor hunts for lizards among a group of sleeping Tarbosaurus. A Mononykus forages for termites and investigates new food options after a brief rainstorm. Several types of dinosaurs congregate around a watering hole in Mongolia. Barbaridactylus males compete for females atop a remote plateau. A herd of Secernosaurus brave the harsh gypsum dunes in search of nourishment.
3
3
"Freshwater"
Andrew R. Jones
Paul Thompson
May 25, 2022 (2022-05-25)
A trio of Velociraptor hunt juvenile pterosaurs near a waterfall. An old, battle-scarred male Tyrannosaurus nurses his wounds and encounters a three-year younger female. A Deinocheirus seeks relief from biting flies. A female Quetzalcoatlus builds and guards her nest. A mother Masiakasaurus and her family hunt crabs but one of her hatchlings is ambushed by a Beelzebufo. Some elasmosaurs enter an estuary in search of fish.
After a tropical storm, two Zalmoxes find themselves in a rafting event. Several Hatzegopteryx ambush a herd of Tethyshadros. A female Majungasaurus hunts a group of Simosuchus. A mother Adalatherium raises her offspring in a burrow, hoping to keep them safe from predators like Masiakasaurus and Madtsoia. A pack of Imperobator pursue a Morrosaurus onto a frozen lake. A male Hatzegopteryx attempts to attract a mate.
7
2
"Badlands"
Andrew R. Jones, Adam Valdez
Nick Lyon
May 23, 2023 (2023-05-23)
Female Isisaurus traverse the Deccan Traps to reach their nesting site. A mixed herd of sauropods and Prenocephale navigate a maze of canyons, but are ambushed by a pack of Velociraptor and a trio of Tarbosaurus. A colony of male Corythoraptor protect their eggs from the scorching sun by day, and a female Kuru kulla at night, who has offspring of her own. Two juvenile Tarchia locate a desert oasis, but contend with an adult and a group of Prenocephale. Several Isisaurus hatchlings fall prey to Rajasaurus in an attempt to reach their ancestral home.
8
3
"Swamps"
Krzysztof Szczepanski
Alec Ginns
May 24, 2023 (2023-05-24)
Pterosaur hatchlings take flight to leave their island sanctuary, but are targeted by several Shamosuchus. Several Austroraptor hunt garfish and contend for the best fishing spots. A male Beelzebufo attempts to attract a mate, but his endeavor is interrupted by a herd of Rapetosaurus. A male Pachycephalosaurus must put an upstart youngster in his place. Two Tyrannosaurus brothers hunt Edmontosaurus under the cover of darkness.
A Tyrannosaurus and two Quetzalcoatlus fight over an Alamosaurus carcass. A shoal of Sphenodiscus are ambushed by a Globidens, intent on surplus killing them. At an evaporating lake, juvenile Pectinodon hunt flies while their father hunts Styginetta. Male Triceratops fight and display for the right to mate. A female Nanuqsaurus hunts Ornithomimus to feed herself and her offspring.
Immersive (2024)
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original release date
1
1
"Pterosaur Beach"
Andrew R. Jones
Unknown
February 2, 2024 (2024-02-02)
2
2
"Triceratops Forest"
Andrew R. Jones
Unknown
April 19, 2024 (2024-04-19)
Reception
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.4/10, based on 31 reviews for the first season. The website's critics consensus reads, "Marrying state of the art visual effects with equally immersive narration by David Attenborough, Prehistoric Planet wondrously brings viewers back to the age of dinosaurs."[20] The second season has an approval rating of 83% with an average rating of 7/10, based on 6 reviews.[21] On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 85 out of 100, based on 8 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[22]