Tim Haines, the producer behind the groundbreaking 'Walking with Dinosaurs,' is set to premiere his latest natural history docuseries, 'Surviving Earth,' on NBC.

The series delves into eight mass extinction events spanning 450 million years, examining the creatures that existed before or alongside dinosaurs and their eventual demise.

While the subject matter focuses on widespread death, Haines emphasizes that 'Surviving Earth' is fundamentally about the resilience of life and its ability to recover from catastrophic events like volcanic eruptions, flooding, and drought.

This perspective offers a unique lens through which to understand the planet's history and the adaptability of its inhabitants.

Haines highlighted that the Earth is a constantly changing environment, and life has evolved to cope with these shifts.

He stated, "No matter what the Earth has tried to do, life has always managed to crawl through it and come out the other side stronger." This central message underscores the enduring power of nature.

To bring the prehistoric world to life, Haines worked with more than 300 scientists, including paleontologists and paleoclimatologists, over three and a half years.

The production process, while benefiting from advancements in CGI technology since 'Walking with Dinosaurs' premiered in 1999, followed a similar methodology.

Paleo artists designed the ancient animals, film crews captured background locations, and a tech team then built landscapes and animated detailed models of the creatures.

Haines acknowledged the ongoing scientific debate regarding the exact appearance and behavior of prehistoric life, noting that all renderings are based on the "best guess" of scientists.

He cited a discussion about the gorgonopsians, early distant relatives of mammals, and whether they should be depicted with hair, ultimately leading to a portrayal similar to modern-day Komodo dragons.

A key challenge for 'Surviving Earth' is to create an emotional connection between the audience and creatures that are largely unfamiliar, without resorting to anthropomorphism.

Haines explained that the series uses universal storytelling themes such as parents and babies, predators and prey, to illustrate the rich narratives found in natural history.

The first episode of 'Surviving Earth' also addresses the contemporary climate crisis, drawing parallels between past extinction events and current environmental concerns.

While acknowledging that humans are not the first species to alter the climate, Haines points out that humanity is the first to be aware of its impact.

This awareness, he suggests, presents a unique opportunity for humans to mitigate damage and ensure the Earth remains habitable.