MNN - Mother Nature Network

Skinny dipping in the freezing waters of Siberia, tackling the 'desert of death', and braving a jungle road during monsoon season - not exactly the type of excursions you would expect A-list celebrities to embrace. For Adrien Brody, Tom Hardy, and Henry Cavill, the opportunity for adventure was just too good to pass up. 

 

"I like doing adventurous things in life," says Brody. "I like challenge."

 

The actors all star in a new three part mini-series premiering March 17th on the UK Discovery Channel called "Driven to Extremes." Paired with Formula 1 star Mika Salo and World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson, each celebrity embarks on a road trip through some of the world's toughest (and dangerous) terrains. 

 

"Dark Knight Rises" star Tom Hardy and Salo tackle the Siberian "Road of Bones" - a trip the 35-year-old has completed before for charity. According to a release, this time he even does a bit of skinny dipping in a region where temperatures can sometimes dip to -50 degrees C. Episode 2 features "Man of Steel" actor Henry Cavill paired with Hodgson traveling through the deadly heat of China’s Taklamakan Desert, while Adrien Brody and Salo cruise through the jungles of Ulu Sedili during monsoon season. 

 

 

Beyond the entertaining television this all promises, the series was actually commissioned as a creative (and marketing savvy) way to test Shell's premium motor oil, Shell Helix, in extreme situations.

 

You can see some promotional trailers for the mini-series below. No word yet on if Discovery plans on bringing "Extremes" to the U.S. market.