Dr. John Shears, the leader of the 2022 expedition that discovered Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lost ship, the Endurance, recalls being given only a 10% chance of success.

“I said to him: ‘Well, Shackleton would have taken that chance,’” Shears told Deadline.

This historic journey is the focus of the upcoming Nat Geo feature documentary Endurance, directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, alongside Bafta-nominated director Natalie Hewit. The film premieres at the London Film Festival and will later be available on Disney+ and Hulu.

The documentary weaves together the stories of two expeditions: Shackleton’s 1914 mission to traverse Antarctica and the modern-day Endurance22 expedition led by Shears, whose team set out to locate the shipwreck 107 years later. Shackleton’s crew was trapped in Antarctic ice, and the Endurance sank, but his leadership ensured the survival of all 27 men. The 2022 mission, involving subsea manager Nico Vincent, historian Dan Snow and exploration director Mensun Bound, embarked on the icebreaker Agulhas II to find the wreck in the depths of the Weddell Sea.

“It is the greatest survival story ever told,” said Vasarhelyi. “There was something about there being an artifact after they found the boat… the spirit of exploration, which is still so exciting.”

The filmmakers utilized modern technology to bring the past to life. They color-treated original footage from Australian photographer Frank Hurley, who captured Shackleton’s journey in 1914. The British Film Institute provided a 4K scan of Hurley’s film, which was enhanced for Endurance. Additionally, artificial intelligence was used to recreate the voices of Shackleton and six of his crew members.

“Their personalities really come out through their diaries,” Vasarhelyi said. “Now we have this tool… to use their words in their own voice.”

The Endurance22 mission faced immense challenges, including harsh Antarctic conditions.

“Towards the end of the expedition, it’s coming into the Antarctic winter, minus 18 degrees and the film team were absolutely brilliant,” Shears said.

“The teamwork was incredible… they were working night and day in freezing conditions like Shackleton’s expedition,” Producer Ruth Johnston added.

As the film prepares for its release, Vasarhelyi hopes it will spark conversation.

“This is a movie you might watch on a Friday night or Thanksgiving… and talk about historic and modern-day adventures,” she said.

Endurance captures the perseverance and legacy of Shackleton’s mission and the remarkable efforts to uncover the ship’s final resting place.