Get ready, adrenaline junkies! Johnny Knoxville takes the helm of 'Fear Factor' reboot in 2026

Nearly 25 years after its debut, “Fear Factor” is set to return to television with a new season, promising more adrenaline-pumping challenges. 

Earlier this year, Fox announced that the show is expected to premiere in January 2026 with stunt performer Johnny Knoxville as the host.

Fox says this reinvention aims to blend classic danger with modern psychological tension, drawing inspiration from shows like “Survivor” and “Big Brother” but with the signature “Fear Factor” twist.

The “Fear Factor: The Next Chapter” reboot follows years of cancellations caused by controversy, including one infamous donkey stunt. 

The show was cancelled in 2006 after the contestants were asked to drink donkey urine and semen. This move sparked outrage even before it was aired, which led to NBC canning it.

MTV tried to revive the show with rapper Ludacris as host in 2017, but it still couldn’t attract an audience and ended two quiet seasons.

The show was a massive ratings success, attracting millions of viewers; however, the pressure to surpass previous episodes led to a surge in shocking and sensational content, which contributed to a decline in ratings and the show’s cancellation in 2006.

The original show was previously hosted by American Podcaster and actor Joe Rogan during its original run on NBC from 2001 to 2006 and again for its revival in 2011 and 2012.

The President of FOX Television Network, Michael Thorn, said  Knoxville is the right champion of fearless entertainment.

“His wild sense of humour, unmatched ability to push boundaries and take on the extreme makes him the perfect fit to lead this bold new reinvention of Fear Factor,” said Thorn.

According to the channel, the reboot will blend traditional fear-inducing “Fear Factor” stunts, like eating stomach-turning items and high-risk physical trials, with strategic mind games.

Contestants will live under one roof in a remote location, where they will face mind-blowing stunts, harrowing challenges in a twisted game of social strategy.

At the end of the season, one winner will receive a grand prize. The twist in this version is that this time it's not just physical, it’s social. 

Players must outwit and outlast each other while facing nerve-wracking challenges that push the limits of human endurance.