Walking with Dinosaurs (2025 TV series)

This article is about the 2025 miniseries. For the original 1999 miniseries, see Walking with Dinosaurs. For the 2013 film, see Walking with Dinosaurs (film).
Walking with Dinosaurs
Cover of the 2025 UK DVD release
GenreNature documentary
Created byKirsty Wilson
Narrated byBertie Carvel
ComposerTy Unwin
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producersHelen Thomas
Andrew Cohen
ProducersTom Hewitson
Stephen Cooter
Owen Gower
Running time48–49 minutes
Production companiesBBC Science Unit
PBS
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release25 May (2025-05-25) –
29 June 2025 (2025-06-29)

Walking with Dinosaurs is a 2025 six-part nature documentary television miniseries produced by the BBC Studios Science Unit and PBS in association with ZDF and France Télévisions. It is marketed as a revival of the original 1999 Walking with Dinosaurs miniseries, though without any returning crew members from the 1999 series. Each episode delves into a particular individual dinosaur discovered at an active dig site. The story of each protagonist dinosaur is assembled through paleontological work in the field as well as scenes of computer-generated imagery in live action environments.[1][2]

In the UK, BBC One began airing the series on 25 May 2025, with the remaining episodes streamed on BBC iPlayer on the same day.[3] In the United States, PBS began airing the series as a three-day event starting 16 June 2025.[4] The series also released on ABC TV and ABC iview in Australia and iQIYI in China.[5][6] The series was praised for its scientific accuracy, but received generally mixed reviews for its presentation.

Production and marketing

The new Walking with Dinosaurs series was announced on 4 June 2024, as a co-production between BBC and PBS, along with ZDF and France Télévisions.[7] The series is narrated by Bertie Carvel, with Andrew Cohen and Helen Thomas as executive producers, Kirsty Wilson as showrunner, and Stephen Cooter, Tom Hewitson, and Owen Gower as producer/directors.[8] One of the consulting paleontologists, Nizar Ibrahim, revealed that the series was in part built around the premise to create a documentary featuring Spinosaurus.[9] Over 200 paleontologists were consulted during the series' production.[1]

The original announcement mentioned Spinosaurus, Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus, and Lusotitan as particular dinosaurs of emphasis.[7] Promotional images were first revealed for the new series on 22 January 2025, indicating that Pachyrhinosaurus and Albertosaurus would feature as well.[10] BBC released a full trailer on 10 April 2025.[8][11] A companion book for the series, written by Andrew Cohen, Helen Thomas, and Kirsty Wilson, was released by DK in June 2025.[12]

Episodes

No.TitleTime period and locationDirected byU.K. broadcast dateU.K. viewers
(millions)
1"The Orphan"Montana, 66 Ma (Late Cretaceous)Tom Hewitson25 May 2025 (2025-05-25)2.99[14]
A baby female Triceratops, nicknamed Clover, wanders alone in prehistoric Laramidia. She encounters a nest-guarding female Infernodrakon who is eaten by a Tyrannosaurus. Clover manages to evade the Tyrannosaurus during the night and takes a nap alongside an Edmontosaurus herd on the following day, but she later leaves the herd after the Tyrannosaurus manages to kill a juvenile Edmontosaurus. She also repeatedly encounters an adult male Triceratops, who ultimately defeats the Tyrannosaurus.[13]
2"The River Dragon"Morocco, 100 Ma (Late Cretaceous)Stephen Cooter1 June 2025 (2025-06-01)2.47[14]
A young male Spinosaurus, nicknamed Sobek, is portrayed as a father leading his four offspring in search of food. Sobek stumbles upon a giant titanosaur carcass but is driven off by a Carcharodontosaurus who lays claim, and his family journeys towards the spawning pool of the sawskate Onchopristis. Although an Alanqa kills one of his offspring, Sobek successfully hunts the Onchopristis. After fighting off another Spinosaurus who tries to seize the kill, Sobek provides food for his offspring but dies of his injuries.[13]
3"Band of Brothers"Utah, 130 Ma (Early Cretaceous)Stephen Cooter8 June 2025 (2025-06-08)2.54[14]
A young male Gastonia, nicknamed George, joins a gang of other young males as protection against a Utahraptor pack. The Utahraptor pack, consisting of an adult male and three juveniles, kills one of the young males and attempts to hunt George, but he survives after the Utahraptor pack changes their target to the nearby Planicoxa. Upon reaching adulthood, the Gastonia gang manages to kill the leading male Utahraptor, but a forest fire engulfs the forest. The surviving Utahraptor group become mired in quicksand while the Gastonia succumb to asphyxiation.[13]
4"The Pack"Western Canada, 71 Ma (Late Cretaceous)Tom Hewitson15 June 2025 (2025-06-15)N/A[14]
A teenaged female Albertosaurus, nicknamed Rose, is forced to find an alternative source of food after a failed hunt against Arrhinoceratops and the late arrival of a migrating Edmontosaurus herd. Rose and her mate attempt to hunt a Cryodrakon without their pack, to the chagrin of the leading female Albertosaurus. On the following day, Rose's mate dies during the hunt after running into the Edmontosaurus stampede. For the next hunt, Rose manages to drive the old male Edmontosaurus to the leading female Albertosaurus, who kills her prey and shares it with Rose.[13]
5"The Journey North"Canada, 73 Ma (Late Cretaceous)Owen Gower22 June 2025 (2025-06-22)2.33[14]
Multiple herds of Pachyrhinosaurus migrate northward, leading to a confrontation in which an infant male, nicknamed Albie, is separated from his mother. During their migration, the herd faces an azhdarchid pterosaur, freak weather events, and a pack of Gorgosaurus who hunt the nearby Edmontosaurus and later attempt to kill Albie. The majority of the Pachyrhinosaurus herd, including Albie and his mother, succumb to a flash flood, but the surviving members reach their destination.[13]
6"Island of Giants"Portugal, 150 Ma (Late Jurassic)Owen Gower29 June 2025 (2025-06-29)N/A[14]
The largest known male Lusotitan, nicknamed Old Grande, finds a female but loses a fight against a younger rival male. He feeds on the bones of a beached pliosaur carcass and rests on the shore until his leg injury heals. Though pressured by a female Torvosaurus during his recuperation, Old Grande manages to recover and wins during his rematch against the rival male. In the end, Old Grande mates with the female after a successful courtship display.[13]

Reception

The 2025 series received generally mixed reviews. Critics agreed that the CGI was an improvement over the original series, though it fell short of the photorealistic style accomplished by Prehistoric Planet (2022–2023).[15][16][17] Several reviewers were distracted by the usage of anthropomorphism in the dinosaur-centred storylines.[16][18] Jack Seale of The Guardian described the paleontologist-based segments as "painstaking to the point of tedium".[15] Conversely, Carol Midgley of The Times "found the sequences of the actual digs some of the most interesting parts",[16] and Dan Einav of Financial Times stated that "[the] on-site segments are a joy to watch".[17]

British paleontologist James Ronan praised the scientific accuracy, general behavioural depictions and incorporation of fieldwork segments, but expressed criticism on certain exaggerations and a lack of behavioral variety compared to the original series. He stated that the series felt more like a "dramatized re-enactment of possible scenarios" rather than observations of the dinosaurs in their natural habitat. He also noted minor graphical shortcomings and animation inconsistencies.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b Conlan, Tara (2025-05-19). "A T-rex with lips? Predators with pink eyebrows? Walking with Dinosaurs is back to challenge everything you know". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  2. ^ "Walking With Dinosaurs - Everything you need to know about the new series". www.bbc.co.uk. May 19, 2025. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  3. ^ Mensah, K. (2025-05-14). "Walking with Dinosaurs BBC release date confirmed – 25 years after groundbreaking first series". Radio Times. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  4. ^ "PBS and BBC Unveil the Global Trailer for Reimagined Series WALKING WITH DINOSAURS". PBS. 2025-04-10. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  5. ^ "Reimagined landmark series Walking With Dinosaurs premieres on the ABC this June". About the ABC. 2025-05-05. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  6. ^ Merican, Sara (2025-03-18). "UK & China Seek Co-Pro Opportunities; BBC Studios Sets 'Walking With Dinosaurs' iQiyi Streaming Launch For China — Filmart". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  7. ^ a b Goldbart, Max (4 June 2024). "'Walking With Dinosaurs' Returning To BBC & PBS After 25 Years". Deadline.
  8. ^ a b "Walking With Dinosaurs – BBC Factual and PBS release trailer and confirms award-winning actor Bertie Carvel as narrator for the new series". www.bbc.co.uk. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  9. ^ Gramling, C. (2025-04-14). "Could Spinosaurus swim? The fierce dinosaur ignites debate". ScienceNews. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
  10. ^ PBS Publicity (22 January 2025). "PBS AND BBC RELEASE FIRST-LOOK IMAGES FROM THE SERIES WALKING WITH DINOSAURS". PBS. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  11. ^ BBC (2025-04-10). Walking With Dinosaurs | Official Trailer (2025) - BBC. Retrieved 2025-04-10 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "BBC Walking With Dinosaurs". dkbooks. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Walking with Dinosaurs, Episodes". BBC One. BBC. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Weekly Top 50 Programmes". Barb Audiences. Retrieved 2 June 2025. (No permanent link available. Search for relevant dates.)
  15. ^ a b Seale, Jack (2025-05-25). "Walking with Dinosaurs review – a cheap, tired revival whose cliches are as old as fossils". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  16. ^ a b c Midgley, Carol (May 25, 2025). "Walking with Dinosaurs review — will this inspire young palaeontologists?". The Times.
  17. ^ a b Einav, Dan (2025-05-19). "Walking with Dinosaurs TV review — landmark BBC natural history series is back from extinction". Financial Times. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  18. ^ Watson, Keith (2025-05-25). "Walking with Dinosaurs, review: less natural history, more Jackanory". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  19. ^ Ronan, J. (2025-05-28). "Walking With Dinosaurs 2025 Review: A Revival of Science and Storytelling". james-ronan.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
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