Netflix is developing a new feature film inspired by the extraordinary true story of Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton and the legendary Antarctic rescue mission involving the ship The Endurance.
The project will be directed by Phil Barantini, whose acclaimed limited series Adolescence earned widespread recognition, while the screenplay has been written by The Revenant Oscar nominee Mark L. Smith.
The film will recount the events of the 1914 Trans-Antarctic Expedition, during which The Endurance became trapped in Antarctic ice before eventually sinking. At the heart of the story is Ernest Shackleton’s remarkable effort to save every member of his stranded crew, leading them to safety after months of survival on drifting ice without losing a single life.
The producing team includes Ridley Scott, Phil Barantini, Mark L. Smith, Cliff Roberts, Michael Pruss, Joey McFarland, Brian Oliver and Samantha Beddoe. According to reports, Netflix is also hoping to establish a long-term creative partnership with Barantini following the project. After Adolescence, the filmmaker is also directing the upcoming series Rabbit, Rabbit.
Ernest Shackleton’s story has attracted Hollywood’s attention before. Late filmmaker Wolfgang Petersen previously explored adapting the expedition for the big screen, with Mel Gibson and Russell Crowe both considered for the lead role, though the project never moved forward. Production on Netflix’s adaptation is currently expected to begin in 2027.
