A Prequel For "Blue Planet II" Has Been Released And It's Breathtaking

A prequel film with music by Radiohead and Hans Zimmer (and narration from David Attenborough) teases scenes from the new nature series.

A prequel film for Blue Planet II, with music by Radiohead and Hans Zimmer, has been released ahead of the new series, which comes 20 years after the first.

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The song, a new version of Radiohead's "Bloom", was performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra and narrated by Sir David Attenborough. In a press statement, Thom Yorke of Radiohead said: “'Bloom' was inspired by the original Blue Planet series so it’s great to be able to come full circle with the song and reimagine it for this incredible landmark’s sequel."

Here's a selection of the film's moments, featuring some scenes that won't appear in the new series.

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BBC Earth / Via Facebook: video.php

BBC Earth / Via Facebook: video.php

BBC Earth / Via Facebook: video.php

BBC Earth / Via Facebook: video.php

BBC Earth / Via Facebook: video.php

BBC Earth / Via Facebook: video.php

BBC Earth / Via Facebook: video.php

The show took four years to make, a result of 125 expeditions with filming across every ocean.

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BBC is hoping that Blue Planet II matches the viewing figures and critical success of last year's Planet Earth II. Tony Hall, director general of the BBC, told audiences at a screening of the new series that Planet Earth II was watched "virtually every country in every continent".

Planet Earth II was even watched by more young people than episodes than of The X Factor on ITV at the time, which, David Attenborough told Radio Times, "pleases me enormously".

Blue Planet II will debut later this year on BBC One.