Since 2023, Netflix has live-streamed marriage show reunions, bloody fights, and actor awards, and now they’re putting together the drama of life choices, the suspense of violent sports, and accomplishments all into one death-defying broadcast. No, we really mean death-defying. They will be enabling teaming up with Alex Honnold, better known as the man who dared to Free Solo, as he will be climbing one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, the Taipei 101, on live TV. With “no ropes, no safety net, and no second takes,” says Netflix. They forgot to add “all panic attacks.” The Taipei 101 stands at 508 meters tall, about half as tall as Honnold’s Yosemite climbs. The event will be analyzed by Emily Harrington, Mark Rober, Seth Rollins, and Pete Woods.
“I’m sure viewers will probably be on edge watching this,” Honnold shared with Tudum. “I assume that most people will be sort of uncomfortable watching the whole thing. But I hope that viewers get a little bit of my joy from the experience — that they can appreciate the fun of it and the beauty of it, the scenery, just the whole experience. It’s not just extreme sports — it’s more.” Honnold was the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, which follows his career as a rock climber who climbs without safety equipment. While he mostly climbs naturally created rock formations, he’s jumping at the opportunity to climb a man-made building as its normally not an opportunity presented to him. “It’s really hard to get permission to climb a building and I have permission, I have to take advantage of it and climb the building,” he explained. “Basically, it’s just rare to get this kind of opportunity, so you gotta jump when you can.”
Hosted by Elle Duncan, you can watch the epic climb on Netflix on Friday, January 23 starting at 8 P.M. ET.