The film about Karl’s incredible global challenge from the legendary film-maker will be ‘a treat’ for followers
Karl Bushby crossing the Martyrs Bridge in Turkiye in May 2025(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
A Hull man who has spent the past 28 years walking around the world is to have his adventures featured in a documentary. Karl Bushby, who is now on the home strait of his huge adventure, has told followers they are in for “a treat”, announcing that legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog will be directing the work.
In a reel on his Instagram page, Karl said: “A number of you have been commenting and asking about, is there gonna be a documentary, books, film etc? Well, good news is yes, we are working on a documentary,
“The even better news is that this documentary will be directed by none other than legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog. Let that sink in.
“So, you guys are gonna get a treat. Basically, Werner is going to get his hands on 16 years worth of video that we’ve been stacking away now and turn that into something I can only imagine is gonna be worth watching.
“So, absolutely delighted. How do you get 28 years of adventure into a single documentary? Well, if anybody can do it, Werner can. So really looking forward [to] how this is gonna shake out and I will keep you guys updated as we go.”
Herzog has directed many fiction feature films and short films, and dozens of documentary feature and short films, as well as episodes of two TV series. The screenwriter or co-writer for his own films, and for others, Herzog has also acted in numerous film or TV productions.
The documentary about Karl will be produced by Zach Guglin and Jordan Tappis of Westward Productions, who have been supporting Karl on his historic expedition for over 16 years. Karl aims to begin his swim across the English Channel on or around October 1 and plans to arrive in Hull, his finish line, on or around November 1.
All the finer details are still to be decided, and given the nature of the expedition, these dates are moving targets, his documentary producers have said. After a block on permission to be able to swim from France to England, with Karl, 57, declaring “I just wanna get home”, back in July, the adventurer has since got the authorities’ backing to make the swim, conditions allowing.
He was earlier refused access to the Channel Tunnel, or its service tunnel, which he hoped to be able to walk through – the terms of his self-set challenge means he cannot use any transport to reach his final destination of Sutton Park in Hull – which would have negated the need to make the swim across one of the world’s busiest shipping channels. The former paratrooper and son of an SAS soldier, Karl set out from his home in Newtondale in October 1998, aiming to become the first person to walk an unbroken path around the world; he thought it would take him 12 years.
Karl previously said: “I can still remember leaving my mum’s house in Hull in October 1998. It’s going to be very emotional walking back along that road.” The adventurer has faced a jungle swarming with crocodiles and anacondas; a freezing crossing of the Bering Strait and 57 days in a Russian prison, during his 36,000-mile trek.
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