David Blaine Reveals What Makes New Series Unlike Any Of His Previous Work

David Blaine is showcasing a side of himself that the world has never seen before in David Blaine: Do Not Attempt. The modern-day Harry Houdini has spent the better part of three decades pushing his body to its absolute limits in death-defying stunts that leave audiences citing magic as the only rationale as to how they are possible.

From burying himself alive to spending seven days submerged in a water-filled sphere, Blaine has never blinked. The 52-year-old illusionist adopted a persona of stoicism, allowing his audience to be the ones to show reactions to his stunts. Now in Do Not Attempt, for the first time in his career, Blaine is giving into his emotions.

David Blaine_ Do Not Attempt covered in bees

David Blaine: Do Not Attempt Review - I Wasn't Able To Look Away From Visually Stunning Series As Death-Defying Stunts Push Human Limits

David Blaine became famous for his magic stunts, but now he's seeking out the people who push their limits beyond anything seen on a theatrical stage.

Posts

ScreenRant spoke with Blaine to discuss how his new National Geographic series brings out a side of himself that he has left dormant from the public for years, what keeps him excited to innovate at this point in his life, and which of the Do Not Attempt stunts tested him the most.

Do Not Attempt Introduces Audiences To David Blaine, The Man

"This is almost like me as the spectator..."

The world has always known David Blaine to be that "light work, no reaction" magician. Now, audiences are seeing the man behind the mask.

"The people that know me, that are close to me, they like those moments that I always cut and don't put on air," Blaine said. "I had a team, Imagine Documentaries, and they were in charge for the first time. I didn't control every little bit of what happened. That was something completely different than what I'm used to."

David Blaine: Do Not Attempt puts the titular magician in enigmatic environments across the globe, participating in tribal traditions that, to the outside eye, are borderline supernatural.

"It's like I'm the audience watching these incredible people doing these amazing talents that they've worked on for thousands of hours, so when I see it, it feels like magic, and then getting a crash course on how to do them," Blaine explained. "I'm basically running around screaming, reacting. I'm uncomfortable. It's something I've never really shared ever. My shows are always me as a magician, and this is almost like me as the spectator."

Becoming the spectator means being along for the ride without a roadmap. Throughout his career, Blaine has been able to anticipate. In Do Not Attempt, he can only improvise.

"It is giving that side of me that I think I try often not to show."

"I like the magician character, who's more monotone and is letting the audience react," Blaine added. "Instead, I'm the person reacting, running, and screaming. There are so many scenes where I'm crying."

What Allows David Blaine To Remain Creatively Fresh?

"I think the mental part of it has become stronger..."

Blaine's first televised special aired in May 1997. 23 years later, he still approaches each of his projects with the same enthusiasm.

"The exciting part for me is constantly learning," Blaine said. "Learning from these incredible people from around the world has been a dream come true, but I do have to say it's definitely different now."

That biggest difference comes in what part of himself that he's testing.

"You feel the impact of each thing in an entirely different way," Blaine continued. "I think the mental part of it has become stronger on some level, but the physical part has become much weaker, which makes everything much more difficult to do. We're in the Arctic Circle going under the ice, but the ice freezes very quickly. 'What if that hole freezes over and you have to break out?' I'm like, 'What? That's amazing.' By the way, it broke my knuckles, breaking through that ice. It hasn't recovered yet."

Even if his body can't keep up with his stunts the way that it used to, Blaine is still bent on living outside of his comfort zone.

"My one request was, I said, whatever you present to me, make sure that you're uncomfortable."

"Even mentioning the idea, it should make you feel on the edge of your seat just saying it," Blaine detailed. "I feel like getting out there and doing things that you're uncomfortable doing is the greatest learning curve. The learning curve is so fast as well. Normally, I have a year or two or three to train and learn one skill, and then I show the end result of that. But on this, it's the opposite."

David Blaine: Do Not Attempt airs new episodes every Sunday on National Geographic and streams the following day on Hulu and Disney+.