The Series Spotlights a Bold Journey from South Memphis to the Peaks of Possibility
NEW YORK, NY — September 3, 2025 — Andscape is proud to announce Memphis to the Mountain, a transformative three-part documentary series that follows a group of young climbers from South Memphis on a journey from the protected walls of their local climbing gym to the exposed and challenging slopes of Mount Kenya—the second tallest peak in Africa. The series will premiere on Hulu and Disney+ on September 5th, 2025.
The project was inspired by and born from Memphis Rox, a nonprofit climbing gym and community center founded by Tom Shadyac in close collaboration with local community leader, Chris Dean, which has served as a beacon of hope and opportunity in South Memphis.
Memphis to the Mountain follows a determined group of young climbers from one of South Memphis’s most overlooked and hard-edged neighborhoods, where climbing is virtually unknown, as they set out to conquer a 16,000-foot rock tower on Mt. Kenya. Over the course of a year, they endure grueling preparation, training alongside some of the sport’s most renowned figures, including famed free-soloist, Alex Honnold, and iconic adventurer, Philip Henderson. Battling thin air, raw fear, and the limits of their own endurance, they come to realize that the hardest climb isn’t the mountain—it’s transforming who you believe you can be. A story of grit, growth, and the unshakable power of reaching beyond what you thought possible.
Memphis to the Mountain captures a bold, cinematic expedition in which a handful of young climbers from Memphis Rox embark on a life-changing journey, leaving behind daily adversity to scale new literal and metaphorical heights in the world of elite mountaineering.
Directed by Zachary Barr, and executive produced by Kelley L. Carter, Tom Shadyac, Jason Aidoo, Zachary Barr, Peter Mortimer, the series combines a performative documentary style with breathtaking natural landscapes and unfiltered personal narratives.
As this story of triumph and possibility is shared with audiences, we also honor the memory of Jarmond Johnson, one of the climbers featured in the documentary, who was tragically shot and killed after filming concluded, and all those whose lives have been affected by the scourge of gun violence that all too often impacts underserved communities. Jarmond’s spirit lives on in the work of Memphis Rox and in the young climbers who continue to be inspired by his limitless generosity and profound humility.
“Memphis to the Mountain is a celebration of what happens when you pour into a community and then watch it rise,” said Jason Aidoo, VP and Head of Andscape. “This story reminds us that greatness is already within these neighborhoods, waiting to be unleashed. Andscape is honored to share this deeply moving journey with audiences, and hopes it inspires others to tackle the challenges in front of them.”
“When we founded Memphis Rox, it wasn’t just about climbing—it was about standing with, and learning from, a community that is all-too often looked over, yet pulsing with promise. Memphis to the Mountain is proof of the transformative process that occurs when young people are able to reach beyond their circumstances, immerse themselves in nature’s beauty and brutality, and thereby discover the infinite potential that lies within,” says Tom Shadyac, the Founder of Memphis Rox and Executive Producer of Memphis to the Mountain.
Chris Dean, who helped found the gym alongside Shadyac and was a producer on the film, added, “It isn’t just about conquering a mountain outside—it’s about scaling the walls inside each of us, and finding the strength to grow into a fuller version of yourself. It’s literally Memphis Rox’s mission come to life.”
As the climbers push past physical and mental limits to ascend Mount Kenya, the series offers an intimate look at their resilience, their roots, and the sense of purpose that connects them all. The documentary is not only a meditation on movement and mountains—it’s a testament to the power of community, visibility, and investing in untold potential.
ABOUT MEMPHIS ROX
At Memphis Rox, climbing serves as a powerful metaphor for overcoming obstacles and reaching new heights. By providing opportunities for youth not just to climb indoors, but outdoors, young climbers discover the beauty of nature, and inevitably find that beauty reflected in themselves.
That same energy animates the new docuseries MEMPHIS TO THE MOUNTAIN, a Sender Films and Shady Acres Entertainment production, premiering on Hulu September 5, 2025. Produced by the team behind the award winning film, Black Ice, a 2020 documentary following a crew of aspiring ice climbers from South Memphis to the frozen wilds of Montana, MEMPHIS TO THE MOUNTAIN takes viewers alongside nine unique and unlikely characters who leave the safety of their local gym, Memphis Rox, to train for an improbable pursuit of the second tallest peak in Africa — the challenging and dangerous 16,000 foot summit of Mount Kenya.
This expedition is a story of courage and resilience, reflecting the daily climb South Memphis youth often face to overcome the harsh realities of their surroundings. Jarmond “Mond” Johnson, one of the characters prominently featured in the docuseries, and a beloved Memphis Rox staffer, was tragically shot and killed just before the film’s completion. Jarmond inspired every life he encountered, as he shared just months prior with Men’s Health about the moral clarity of climbing, “I never knew something that I used to escape the drama going on in front of me could lead me all the way to Africa.” The docuseries is dedicated to the memory of Jarmond and to all those who loved him and continue to embody his boundless, profoundly humble spirit.
At home in Memphis, Rox continues to respond to the needs of its neighbors, growing into a vital community hub. The on-site juice bar provides healthy, affordable meals in what is otherwise a food desert. The Sundry Store has offered at-or-below cost clothing and household necessities. After-school programs provide mentorship and a safe space for youth. These values reverberate in the journeys captured in the series.
Every initiative at Memphis Rox is rooted in the principle that when barriers are removed and community is prioritized, people thrive. From South Memphis to Mount Kenya, our Memphis Rox climbers carry that message. To learn how you can help, visit memphisrox.org.
ABOUT ANDSCAPE
Andscape is a content studio that explores the depth of Black identity through its power in sports and culture. Magnified by the power and reach of The Walt Disney Company, the Andscape umbrella includes daily journalism, film, television, book publishing and music.
For more information, visit www.andscape.com.
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