Inside "Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember" — The Science, Emotion, and Family Story Behind Nat Geo’s New Special

When Chris Hemsworth first explored the limits of the human body in Limitless, the show’s final episode hinted at a more vulnerable direction — one rooted in emotion rather than endurance. That spark ultimately evolved into Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember, a deeply personal Nat Geo special in which Chris embarks on a therapeutic journey with his father, Craig, following Craig’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Through recreated memories, scientific insight, and candid father-son conversations, the film reveals just how powerful connection can be in supporting brain health. I spoke with clinical psychologist Dr. Suraj Samtani and executive producers Arif Nurmohamed and Jane Root to understand how this intimate project came together — and why it may resonate with families everywhere.

When Dr. Suraj Samtani first received an email inviting him to advise on a Nutopia–National Geographic project involving Chris Hemsworth, he almost didn’t open it. Samtani admitted he “thought this has to be spam… I almost reported it before double-checking on Google,” only to realize it was legitimate. A researcher at UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, Samtani specializes in the role of social connections in reducing dementia risk — work inspired by his great-grandfather’s diagnosis.

He explained that his research team “brings together data from over 40,000 people around the world” to understand why staying socially active matters. As Samtani put it, “About half of our risk [for dementia] is genetic, but the other half is things we can modify” — from physical and mental activity to social engagement, which he hopes the film helps viewers better appreciate.

A major theme he stresses is that dementia isn’t inevitable. “Being socially active actually puts the brakes on cognitive decline and slows it down,” he said, emphasizing that connection is a protective factor as important as exercise or cognitive challenges.

For many families, early withdrawal is a common and painful response. Samtani noted that people often “don’t know how to talk to [someone living with dementia]… so they correct them, talk over them, or leave them alone.” Instead, he encourages loved ones to create opportunities for engagement: initiating conversations, letting the person speak, and ensuring they interact with others outside the home “multiple times a week,” whether through visits, activities, or short outings. Maintaining these bonds, he said, “is really important for their mind and body.”

One of the moments he hopes viewers pay attention to is the campfire conversation between Chris and Craig. Samtani said it “really stood out” because it shows the measurable value of emotional openness. “Confiding in someone you trust promotes brain health,” he said. “If you’ve been keeping something inside, find someone you trust and open your heart.”

The film features an elaborate reconstruction of the Hemsworth family home, but Samtani wants viewers to know that meaningful reminiscence doesn’t require a production budget. “Most people don’t have the resources to recreate an entire family home,” he acknowledged, “but you can use the power of reminiscence therapy in a simple, achievable way.”

He recommends meeting the person “at the time point they’re at” — whether that’s childhood, high school, or early adulthood — and bringing out photos, objects, or home videos from that era. Returning to familiar places or reconnecting with people from that period “strengthens the memory like rebuilding Lego blocks,” each interaction helping to reconstruct and reinforce the neural pathways involved.

Samtani also highlighted that the brain “never stops making new cells,” making it valuable — even for someone living with dementia — to learn new skills such as a musical instrument, a language, or a tactile hobby like knitting. “It’s never too late to learn something new,” he said.

For executive producer Arif Nurmohamed, the seeds of A Road Trip to Remember were planted during the creation of Limitless. He recalled that the final episode, Acceptance, “was a bit of an outlier” compared to the more stunt-based installments. It revealed a different side of Chris — one that was vulnerable, reflective, and open to exploring mortality. Seeing how strongly that resonated with viewers and with Chris himself, the team realized “he’d be comfortable telling an even more personal story.

When Craig’s diagnosis occurred between seasons, the project shifted naturally toward something deeper. Nurmohamed described how Chris “took that responsibility very seriously,” knowing that as a public figure he could “make real change” by being honest about his family’s experience. Because Chris trusted both Nutopia and director Tom Barbor-Might, the team felt confident crafting a film whose emotional beats would develop in real time. “We didn’t really know until we got it into the edit exactly what we would have,” he said, noting that the unscripted moments — from campfire confessions to flashes of Craig’s symptoms — ultimately became the heart of the film.

Nurmohamed explained that the film’s focus on social connection and reminiscence was intentional. While groundbreaking drug research is underway, the team wanted to highlight strategies “anyone can do” — tools rooted in behavioral change rather than medical access. “Connecting with people, spending time with people, reflecting on the past — these are things we can all do,” he said.

Drawing inspiration from reminiscence therapy, the filmmakers decided to “super-size” the concept for television by reconstructing the Hemsworths’ childhood home. Nurmohamed said its “surreal theatricality” appealed to the team creatively, while also echoing the controlled environments they built for Limitless. Yet at its core, he emphasized, the underlying idea is simple: “For anyone at home, it can be as easy as looking through old photos or listening to old music.”

Ultimately, he hopes the film inspires viewers — regardless of whether Alzheimer’s touches their lives — to reach out to the people who matter. “If someone as busy as Chris Hemsworth can do it,” he said, “we all can.”

For Nutopia founder and executive producer Jane Root, the project embodies the company’s signature blend of emotional storytelling and scientific depth — something she calls “clever pleasure.” She said the goal is always to make something “clever but also really enjoyable,” where audiences learn effortlessly while connecting with the subject on a human level.

Root noted that the Hemsworth family’s history had long intrigued the team. Chris had once told them he didn’t own a pair of shoes until he was seven, and all three Hemsworth brothers grew up in an “extraordinary place” the filmmakers always wanted to revisit. Returning there became a natural fit once the discussion turned to Alzheimer’s, connection, and the roots of Chris’s childhood.

Throughout filming, Root said they were continually impressed by Chris’s willingness to be open. “He’s all-in,” she explained, “whether it’s climbing an ice wall or opening up about his family.” His willingness to share intimate moments — including playful ones, like the night-vision mix-up that opens the film — gave the project its warmth and authenticity.

Looking ahead to the film’s impact, Root hopes families living with dementia see not just struggle but joy. “This isn’t a hospital film about how terrible everything is,” she said. “It’s joyful — full of fun and love. I hope people take pleasure from it and find hints for things they can do in their own lives.”

From Samtani’s evidence-based insights to the Hemsworths’ candid emotional journey, A Road Trip to Remember illustrates that connection isn’t just comforting — it’s healing. As Samtani put it, staying socially engaged “puts the brakes on cognitive decline,” while Nurmohamed and Root emphasize that even simple acts of reaching out can reshape a family’s experience with dementia.

Above all, the film invites viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect — because sometimes the most powerful medicine is simply spending time with the people we love.

Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember premieres Sunday, November 23rd, at 9/8c on National Geographic, and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.