Remember that NBC show where people had to eat bugs, hang from helicopters, or get dunked in freezing water for cash? Yep, that was Fear Factor, a game show that pushed contestants to their physical and psychological limits for a serious grand prize. Fox has now stepped in to revive the series, which has been given the working title of Fear Factor: The Next Chapter and is set for the 2025-2026 television season.
However, longtime fans may be surprised to learn that Joe Rogan, who famously hosted the original NBC version for six seasons and its short-run one-season revival, is not currently attached to the new series. In fact, not much is known about the new iteration altogether since it was just recently announced. What we do know is that it will be produced by Endemol Shine North America, with Kevin Lee, Sharon Levy, Michael Heyerman, and Sean Loughlin signed on as executive producers.
The show will center around a group of strangers who are brought together to live in one house in a remote location. While living there, they'll be put through extreme stunts and intense challenges, all while navigating a cutthroat game of social strategy. Of course, we can most likely expect there to be a cash prize for the winner, but the amount has not been revealed yet. The original series saw contestants competing for a grand prize of $50,000, though it's unclear if the Fox revival will stick with that amount. No people have been cast as contestants yet, and it looks like Fear Factor: The Next Chapter is still in the very early stages of production.
According to Fox Entertainment President Michael Thorn, they're still in the process of putting together the team, including hiring the people who will oversee the production. When asked about Rogan's potential return, Thorn acknowledged his importance to the show but emphasized that it's too early to make any definitive decisions. He mentioned that while Rogan is a key figure for the series, they are still in the early stages of planning the revival and figuring out the next steps.
"We just ordered the series and we are in the process of hiring showrunners and everything right now. Obviously he’s major talent tied to the show, but it’s too early for us to say how we’re going to move forward right now. But we’re thrilled to have the property and think we’re going to be able to really compliment our unscripted lineup with it.”
Rogan has kept a relatively low profile in the entertainment industry lately. His latest release was the 2024 Netflix comedy special Burn the Boats. According to his IMDb page, he’s currently working on a project titled Modern Day Warrior, but beyond that, there don’t appear to be any other major TV or film commitments on his slate. That could potentially leave the door open for a Fear Factor comeback if he's on board. Still, Fox hasn’t confirmed any talks with Rogan, so for now, his involvement remains up in the air.
Stay tuned to GeekSided for more information on Fear Factor: The Next Chapter.