Fox is rebooting NBC’s iconic competition series “Fear Factor” — but will it come complete with the show’s iconic original host, Joe Rogan?
“We just ordered the series and we are just in the process of hiring showrunners and talking about hosts and everything right now,” Fox Entertainment president of entertainment Michael Thorn said during a press conference discussing Fox’s 2025-2026 schedule Sunday. “So 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 complement our unscripted lineup with it.”
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But Thorn assures there will be an answer “soon” as to who is hosting. “We closed the deal and then [Fox Entertainment CEO] Rob [Wade] went: where is your host? So probably next week,” Thorn said. “It’s a great opportunity for someone.”
The original “Fear Factor” aired on NBC from 2001 to 2006 with Joe Rogan as its original host, and then again from 2011-2012. (A previous reboot ran on MTV from 2017 to 2018.)
Along with “Fear Factor,” Fox is picking up another former NBC series for its 2025-2026 slate: The Jane Lynch-hosted “Weakest Link.” Thorn says that, while coincidental, the two acquisitions happened on separate timelines. First, the network was in talks to acquire “Weakest Link” and bring home Lynch, who previously starred on “Glee.”
“‘Weakest Link’ we had been talking about since maybe last summer,” Thorn said. “We saw a couple opportunities, first to get Jane Lynch back on the network. She’s amazing, and we’re thrilled to have her be back on Fox. But the other part of it is we saw an opportunity to have a celebrity game night on Monday night, and to have that as real strong counter programming in the fall. And so when it became available, it just felt like a signature piece of IP and something that could really blend in with our game shows. Game shows do so well for us that we have such a strong brand with our audience in that space.”
Thorn continued: “And then ‘Fear Factor,’ that just came up recently, and it’s a phenomenal title. It’s visceral storytelling at its best and that kind of visceral storytelling really, as you know, across scripted and unscripted really works with our audience. And the chance to reinvent it with a reality element, honestly, it was a no brainer. So it’s coincidental, but exciting.”
Fox’s reboot of “Fear Factor,” currently titled “Fear Factor: The Next Chapter,” is described as “bigger, bolder and more daring” than the original series. Per Fox, “Dropped into an unforgiving, remote location, a group of strangers will live together under one roof, and face mind-blowing stunts, harrowing challenges and a twisted game of social strategy where trust is fleeting — and fear is a weapon.”
Wade says it’s the “reinvention piece” that is “critical” to why the Fox team chose to take on the “Fear Factor” reboot. “It’s called ‘Fear Factor,’ and we’re going to take the brand name, but I think the producer has come up with a really interesting take on it, and it’s not going to feel like the show from 20 years ago,” Wade said.
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