Nik Wallenda will risk his life on live television yet again, this time with a highwire walk over a volcano in Nicaragua.
The daredevil, who is the seventh generation of the Great Wallendas family of stuntmen, is partnering with ABC and Dick Clark Productions on a new special, “Volcano Live!,” in which Wallenda will walk over the active Masaya Volcano in Masaya, Nicaragua. The walk will be 1,800 feet long and is described as his highest and longest walk ever. He’d also be the first person to ever walk across the volcano.
The two-hour TV special will air on Wednesday, March 4.
“After spending years scouting and researching volcanoes, I fully realize why no one has ever attempted this feat: Mother Nature is extremely unpredictable. It is by far the most dangerous walk I have EVER attempted, and that alone makes it very intimidating,” Wallenda said in a statement. “I am pushing myself beyond my comfort zone by the feat itself, but I know that I am up to the challenge. I must admit, it is scary.”
Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, Masaya encompasses multiple craters and is one of very few volcanoes to possess a lava lake. The extreme environment at Masaya will add an extra set of risks to Wallenda’s walk. Throughout the televised event, Nik and his family will be featured in interviews about the rigging, planning and execution of the walk. Volcanologists and various professionals will also be on-site to lend their expertise.
“We are thrilled to be able to showcase Nicaragua through an ambitious walk by Nik Wallenda, one of the most incredible highwire performers,” the government of Nicaragua said in a statement through Cinemateca Nacional, INTUR, MARENA and INETER. “We look forward to viewers witnessing the beauty of our country as Nik crosses the Masaya Volcano.”
Wallenda last did a highwire act 25 stories over Times Square in June (he made it across) as hosted by Michael Strahan and co-hosted by Erin Andrews, and the special netted 5.2 million viewers and a 0.8 TV rating, a drop from his 2012 ABC special “Megastunts: Highwire Over Niagara Falls – Live,” which earned a 2.5 rating and 10.260 million total viewers. He also walked over part of the Grand Canyon in 2013 on Discovery Channel.
The 20219 special did however rank No. 1 in its two-hour time period in total viewers and stood as Sunday’s No. 1 TV show on the major networks among adults 18-49. “Highwire Live” built steadily throughout its telecast, surging by 3.3 million viewers and by 100% in adults 18-49 from its first to final half-hour.
“Volcano Live! with Nik Wallenda” is produced by Dick Clark Productions. Robyn Younie, Mark Bracco, Linda Gierahn, David Simone, Winston Simone, Shelley Ross and Nik Wallenda are executive producers.