This article is jointly published with The Daily Utah Chronicle as part of collaborative coverage of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

Happiness has become a lost expression in the 21st century. In a new series, some of our most beloved storytellers search for the meaning of happiness through an opportunity for culture.

Darin Olien, producer and host, is changing perspectives with movement, community and generosity at the forefront of the yet-to-be-released docuseries “A Road Map To Happiness.” Starring Elijah Wood, Alec Baldwin, Jason Momoa and Shailene Woodley, this new project follows these storytellers to the corners of the world where the happiest people reside.

“We’re going to help create movement and community and infrastructure so that people can have access to things that can help them,” Olien said.

Trusting the gifts of others and our environments

Where we come from and how we associate with the environment around us is the philosophy Olien is leading with in the new docuseries. Following his Emmy Award-winning project “Down To Earth” starring Zac Efron, he wanted to come at an angle of showing people how happiness, peace and hope are attainable.

“When people have the opportunity, when they have some of the pillars of happiness that we get into,” he said, “if they have access to nature, if they have access to good health, if they have prosperity and security and freedom, and many other things that it seems to lend itself to this foundation that allows people to express that level of happiness.”

“A Road Map To Happiness” takes viewers to a multitude of destinations like Denmark, New Zealand, Finland, Vermont and many others, in search of communities with these pillars at the basis of their way of life. Wood described that happiness and peace can be found in other people and the environment through values of trust, ease and belief.

“These are ways of living that we can also adopt and bring into our lives and allow us to find our own contentedness,” he said. He added that it was the welcoming presence of the people he surrounded himself with that allowed him to appreciate simplicity. 

Peace takes time and endurance

On a path to discovery in his growing age, Baldwin said he has struggled to find a sense of peace. He discussed how his life has become a schedule, becoming hard to slow down and focus on the mundane. Though being a part of this project has allowed him to open up to a way of life he lost. 

“That peace I lost in recent years, it was a very difficult experience for me. And then to get that back was something so beautiful,” Baldwin said. “I appreciate so much more now, like, ‘where is a place to go, where I feel safe?’ … A place I can go, where I can really, at my age, just appreciate that so much more.” He added that he’s been around the world and has never had the opportunity to explore it the way he has with this project. It was an “invitation of purpose,” and Olien added that he hopes audiences resonate with the feelings Baldwin and Wood share.

“A Road Map To Happiness” is currently under production. For more information, you can visit roadtohappy.net and follow along with each stop on the road to happiness.

“Let’s create more hope. Let’s create more contentment and happiness, and joy … It’s attainable, it’s possible,” Olien said. “Coming to a community is one of the most powerful things, and this is the way that we create the reality that we want.”