On September 5, 2025 Hulu released Memphis to the Mountain, a three-part docuseries that follows a group of climbers from Memphis Rox as they train for and attempt to summit Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak.
Produced by Sender Films and Shady Acres Entertainment, and directed by Zachary Barr, the series is about South Memphis, community, resilience, and the spirit of Memphis Rox.
From Soulsville to 16,000 Feet
The film documents a year-long journey as Memphis Rox climbers prepared for the 16,000-foot ascent, training with some of the best in the world: Alex Honnold of Free Solo fame and renowned mountaineer Philip Henderson.
But at its heart, Memphis to the Mountain is much more than ropes and rock. It shows what’s possible when opportunity meets determination. As producer Chris Dean, who also summited Mount Kenya, put it:
“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.”
A Special Memphis Screening
Before the series dropped on Hulu, Memphis Rox hosted a special advance screening at Crosstown Theatre on September 4, 2025.
After the final episode played, the climbers featured in the film joined filmmaker and executive producer Tom Shadyac on stage for an emotional panel. Chris Dean addressed the audience and panelists directly:
“Thank you for trusting me to tell your stories.”
The evening was also a tribute to Jarmond “Mond” Johnson, a beloved Memphis Rox staff member and climber who summited Mount Kenya but tragically lost his life before the series’ release. His light radiated throughout the film, and as Shadyac said before and after the screening, Mond’s presence remains a guiding force for Rox and everyone he inspired.
In one especially poignant moment, Mond’s grandmother was in the audience, witnessing the community honor his legacy. The theater filled with both tears and applause, as the audience remembered a young man whose joy and humility made every climb feel bigger than himself.
Why This Story Matters
Hollywood director Tom Shadyac (Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty, I Am) founded Memphis Rox in 2018, transforming a vacant lot in Soulsville into the largest nonprofit climbing gym in the world. His vision was to break down the walls of inequality and building a community where no one is turned away for inability to pay.
As Shadyac said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter:
“When we founded Memphis Rox, 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.”
Andscape VP Jason Aidoo summed it up:
“This story reminds us that greatness is already within these neighborhoods, waiting to be unleashed.”
Watch + Support Memphis Rox
📺 Watch Now:
Memphis to the Mountain is streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
💵 Donate:
Support Memphis Rox directly and help keep climbing accessible for all. Every dollar ensures no one is turned away: memphisrox.org
Memphis on the World Stage
From Soulsville to Hulu screens worldwide, Memphis to the Mountain is proof that Memphis stories are global stories. It answers the question: what happens when you give people the chance to climb (literally and figuratively) and watch them rise?
As the Rox motto says: “We climb higher when we climb together.”
