Bear Grylls Goes Wild With Celebrities In New Fox Adventure Series

Bear Grylls Takes Celebrities Off the Grid

When Hollywood glam meets the rugged wild, sparks are sure to fly. Enter "Bear Grylls is Running Wild," the thrilling new series premiering Tuesday on FOX. Here, the legendary survivalist Bear Grylls takes some bold-faced names off the grid and into the heart of Mother Nature for an intense 48-hour survival experience.

Grylls, who knows the wild like the back of his hand, strips away the usual celebrity entourage, leaving stars to face the elements alone. "I think people aren't used to not having their cell phones with them. Often these stars are not used to having no entourage with them," Grylls shared with FOX Local. "But I think that's part of the magic of ‘Running Wild.’ You get to see the real people unguarded on their own, talking about the battles of life along the way in their journey."

Matthew McConaughey Faces the Wilderness

The series kicks off with a jaw-dropping episode featuring the one and only Matthew McConaughey. Grylls and the Oscar-winning actor head to the picturesque yet unforgiving wilderness of Norway. Facing chilly winds, relentless rain, and steep terrain, McConaughey proves he's up for the challenge.

"He really wanted that challenge. He said, ‘Give me the full experience, turn it up to 10,’" Grylls remarked. "He did great. He should be really proud of himself."

The Wild as a Mentor

For Grylls, the wilderness is more than just a backdrop – it's a mentor. As a former British Special Forces soldier and one of the youngest climbers to conquer Mount Everest, Grylls believes the wild pushes everyone beyond comfort. "The wild is a real star of it actually, in the sense that it challenges us all, and it pushes us, and it keeps us out of that comfort zone," he observed.

Lessons Beyond Survival

The series isn't just about survival – it's a reflection on life, especially for the younger crowd. Grylls emphasizes the parallels between the unpredictable nature of the outdoors and life's twists and turns. "The outdoors is such a great reflection for life in the sense that it's gonna rain sometimes when you're wishing it's going to be sunny," he said. "In life, you've gotta be a never-give-upper. You gotta be humble. Otherwise, in the wild, you'll stumble."

Despite years of thrilling escapades, Grylls still encounters fear, but he embraces it. After surviving a back-breaking accident, he continues to confront his fears head-on. "Life is not a kind of journey to avoid fear," he added. "Life is gonna be full of scary things, and we're cool to tackle those things head on and not be scared of going for things because it might be a nerve-wracking experience."

Catch the premiere of "Bear Grylls is Running Wild" this Tuesday on FOX.