Doug Parker didn’t always see himself as a “dork.” But once we defined the term as someone deeply passionate—perhaps even a little obsessed—with something that brings them joy, he proudly claimed his title as a wildlife dork. As the Field Director and Assistant Producer on the new documentary series Underdogs, narrated by Ryan Reynolds, Parker shares how his childhood love of nature and photography evolved into a career capturing stories from the wildest corners of the Earth.
“I grew up turning over stones, logs—always looking for critters,” Parker recalled. “Later in life, I discovered photography, and combining that with my love for wildlife opened the door to wildlife filmmaking.”
Parker spoke to Dorkaholics about the unique perspective behind Underdogs, how Ryan Reynolds’ narration shaped the tone of the series, and why this is unlike any wildlife documentary you’ve seen before.
The Wild, the Weird, and the Ryan Reynolds Effect
At first glance, Underdogs may look like your standard nature documentary—but within moments, it becomes clear this isn’t Planet Earth. From irreverent jokes to unexpected character moments among animals rarely spotlighted, the show’s heart lies in its mission to elevate nature’s lesser-known creatures.
“Every story we pick is influenced by Ryan and Maximum Effort,” Parker said. “It’s edgier, bolder, irreverent—and Ryan is integral from the very beginning.”
Rather than scripting lines for Reynolds in advance, the production team captures footage in the wild and then lets the actor riff off what he sees. One standout moment involved a frog dad carrying hundreds of tadpoles on his back, with Reynolds’ commentary adding a hilarious human lens to the scene.
“Ryan sees things only he can. He turns raw wildlife footage into something fresh and funny,” Parker said. “That’s what sets Underdogs apart.”
Real Science, Real Danger
While the humor is front and center, Underdogs doesn’t skimp on the science. Behind every shot is a deep understanding of animal behavior, ecology, and environmental sensitivity.
“When we filmed glowworms in New Zealand, we had to hike underground, waist-deep in water, in total darkness,” Parker shared. “Scientists told us the glowworms would stop glowing if we used the wrong kind of light. So we had to mimic their bioluminescence just to film them.”
And the risks go beyond the bugs. In one breathtaking sequence, Parker’s team filmed barnacle geese raising chicks on a 500-foot cliff in Arctic Greenland. During filming, a rockfall thundered through the valley—captured on camera in a dramatic moment that nearly derailed the shoot.
“We had just scouted that exact spot a week earlier and decided it was too dangerous,” Parker revealed. “The whole team was shaken, but we got the shot—and the story.”
The Gear Gets Wild, Too
From glowworm caves to Arctic cliffs, the team’s gear had to be as adaptable as the crew. In Patagonia, they used a remote-controlled buggy with a helicopter-grade camera rig to stealthily film elephant seals.
“It looked like something out of Mission: Impossible,” Parker laughed. “We were capturing this young male sneaking past the alpha seal to mate—without disturbing any of the animals.”
New Stories, New Perspectives
As someone who’s spent over a decade in wildlife TV, Parker said Underdogs pushed him to view the natural world through a new lens—literally and creatively.
“This series reminded me that there’s always a new way to tell a story,” he said. “We’re used to focusing on apex predators, but this time we found the drama in underdogs—the unexpected heroes.”
Whether it’s a bug with a glow-in-the-dark trap or a seal with a secret strategy, Underdogs delivers nature’s drama with a wink and a punchline.
“It’s still factual, it’s still real,” Parker emphasized, “but it’s also just plain fun.”
Don’t miss Underdogs, streaming June 15.
Follow Dorkaholics for more interviews that champion the dorks—and the underdogs—who make storytelling extraordinary.
At Dorkaholics, we believe that there’s a dork in everyone, and it’s our job to bring that dork out into the world. So I wanted to get to know you a little better—what made you a dork growing up?
Doug Parker: Well, I don’t really use that word too often, so what’s your definition?
I don’t know the formal definition, but to me, a dork is someone who’s super interested in something—maybe even a little obsessed—but it brings them joy.
Doug Parker: In that case, I’d say I’m definitely a wildlife dork. I’m a field director and assistant producer, which means I’m often sent to the wildest corners of the world to lead a team and capture animal behavior. I grew up turning over stones, logs—always looking for critters. Later in life, I discovered photography, and the combination of photography and my love for wildlife opened the door to wildlife filmmaking. I didn’t know I had that side of me until I was about 22. Being able to bring the wild to people and inspire others has been amazing. I’ve absolutely loved doing it for the past decade.
Would you say your fingerprints are all over every scene and moment in the series?
Doug Parker: For the episodes I worked on—absolutely. That’s my specialty. I’m out in the field for weeks or even months at a time. I worked in real detail on two of the episodes and had some wild encounters out there.
This series features narration by Ryan Reynolds. Did you have to keep his voice or style in mind while shooting? Because I’ve seen comedians narrate documentaries before, but Ryan’s delivery really stood out—especially during the frog segment, where we see a father with nearly 300 tadpoles, and the way the narration is paired with visuals, like censored playtime.
Doug Parker: Ryan is absolutely integral. From the beginning, every story we pick is influenced by Ryan and Maximum Effort. This isn’t like any wildlife documentary you’ve seen before—it’s edgier, bold, irreverent. It’s a completely new take on wildlife, and Ryan has been involved all the way through. We go out with a plan, but the goal is to find the underdogs—not the stereotypical stars. We capture surprising stories, and when it goes into the edit, Ryan brings his own unique spin. He riffs on the footage and sees things only he can. That’s what makes this series so different.
I appreciate that insight. I was wondering if he was writing jokes ahead of time and you were trying to find visuals to match. But it’s actually the other way around—he’s turning real raw wildlife footage into jokes.
Doug Parker: Exactly. We’re looking for the unsung heroes—animals that haven’t had the spotlight. That naturally leads to new stories. We’re out there reacting to amazing, unexpected moments, and Ryan continues that evolution with his commentary. It’s what sets Underdogs apart.
He’s also referencing scientific and biological phenomena. Is that something he’s passionate about personally, or do you have people on the team who help contextualize what’s being filmed?
Doug Parker: Everything we film is factual and accurate. You can’t plan or prep a shoot without knowing the science—what’s happening, when, and where. It’s a massive collaboration between science and filmmaking. For example, when we filmed glowworms in New Zealand, we had to hike kilometers underground, waist-deep in water, in total darkness. We learned from scientists that if we used the wrong kind of light, the glowworms would stop glowing. By mimicking their bioluminescence with a similar frequency light, we could film them without disturbing their behavior. It was an amazing intersection of science and filmmaking.
I also want to touch on the danger. Watching the series, I thought, “Okay, small creepy crawlers—no big deal.” But then I saw the honey badger scene, and I was like, “Oh my gosh.” I’m glad Ryan prefaces it by saying, “Don’t worry, he’s fine.”
Doug Parker: That moment is legendary. And yes, there are real dangers. For the Terrible Parents episode, we filmed barnacle geese that raise their chicks on a 500-foot cliff in Arctic Greenland. To get there, we flew by helicopter, dropped all our gear and crew into a remote valley, and stayed for three weeks. We had to rappel down the cliff with cameras and gear, getting within 30 centimeters of a 400-foot drop. One day, we heard what we thought was thunder. It turned out to be a rockfall—an avalanche caused by melting ice. Our camera operator reacted quickly and caught it on film. It was a wall of debris crashing down, and it passed right by the goose nest we were filming. We had scouted that very spot just a week earlier but deemed it too dangerous. It was the wildest thing I’ve ever experienced—and a filming first.
That’s incredible. What are some other memorable moments you’ll always carry with you?
Doug Parker: The glowworms were unforgettable. These predatory larvae emit bioluminescence to lure prey. They build mucus hammocks in caves and dangle slime threads to catch insects. When you enter the main cavern, it’s like walking into a starry night sky—thousands of glowing lights all around you. It’s probably the coolest wildlife spectacle I’ve ever witnessed.
You’ve been on cliffs, in water, underground—it sounds like you could be part of the Mission: Impossible team.
Doug Parker: [Laughs] We’ve definitely used some gear that would fit right in. For the Sexy Beasts episode, we wanted to film a young elephant seal sneaking through a harem of females without being spotted by the dominant bull. We used a massive, silent, electric remote-controlled buggy with a motorized gimbal typically used on helicopters. We put the gimbal on the buggy and controlled it from 200 meters away, weaving through the seals. It looked like something from Mars—and gave us an immersive, never-before-seen perspective.
What have you learned from working on this project that you’ll carry into future wildlife documentaries?
Doug Parker: To always look at things from new angles. I’ve been doing wildlife TV for a decade, and Underdogs challenged me to think differently. We pushed boundaries—technically, narratively—and in doing so, we captured things we never expected. There’s always more to learn and discover.
