TV
Johnny Knoxville to Host Fox’s ‘Fear Factor’ Reboot
No stranger to performing questionable stunts on television, “Jackass” star Johnny Knoxville has been tapped to host “Fear Factor: The Next Chapter.”
The reboot of the reality competition is set to premiere on Fox later this year as part of the 2025-2026 season.
In this version, a group of strangers will live together in a remote location where they’ll face harrowing stunts, gross-out challenges, and a twisted game of social strategy. At the end of the season, one winner will receive a grand prize.
“Johnny Knoxville is the champion of fearless entertainment,” Fox Television Network president Michael Thorn said. “His wild sense of humor, unmatched ability to push boundaries and take on the extreme makes him the perfect fit to lead this bold new reinvention of ‘Fear Factor.’”
“When you reimagine a series as legendary as ‘Fear Factor,’ you need a host who is the epitome of daring charisma and spectacle, and that’s Johnny Knoxville personified,” added executive producer Sharon Levy. “We’ll be pushing fear and social strategy to places that will redefine reality competition, which makes Johnny the perfect host for what will be a wild, unforgettable ride, and we’re beyond excited to see him unleash all the fear (and the fun) on our contestants and our viewers.”
You can apply to compete on “Fear Factor: The Next Chapter” at FearIsBack.com.
Joe Rogan hosted “Fear Factor” during its original run on NBC from 2001-2006 and again for its revival in 2011-2012. Ludacris served as host for MTV’s iteration of the show from 2017-2018.
As the inaugural season of Apple TV+’s stellar new series “Widow’s Bay” barrels toward its finale in two weeks, the latest episode gives Kate O’Flynn the spotlight as her character revisits her trauma with the Boogeyman.
“Your Baggage“, directed by Andrew DeYoung (Friendship), sees O’Flynn’s scene-stealing Patricia once again renew her fight with the Michael Myers-like stalker that slaughtered her peers during her adolescence. Thrillingly, it makes for one extended chase sequence that sees Patricia trying to warn others, while evading the undead killer.
In short, this episode’s incredible riff on Halloween and the slasher subgenre transformed Patricia into a fierce Final Girl.
“Well, that felt like a bucket list that I didn’t know was on my bucket list until I did it, but when I did it, I just lapped up every minute,” O’Flynn tells Bloody Disgusting of her triumphant turn this episode. “It felt fantastic for her to get that moment where she is becoming a badass. That was amazing.”
The actress turned to a few notable references for her performance. “Horror-wise, I go back to my youth, which was referenced in some of the episodes: Wicker Man, Carrie, and Rosemary’s Baby, that sort of thing is my kind of vibe.”
O’Flynn also notes how the series’ unique tone allows for so much creative freedom to make bold swings. “There’s something very freeing about it. Every moment is up for grabs, so it’s like we don’t have to totally land in one direction or another. It keeps it alive.“
Patricia is the eccentric assistant to Matthew Rhys‘ Mayor Tom Loftis, who’s at the forefront of trying to solve the island’s pesky curse predicament. Rhys felt the same about “Widow’s Bay” and its rare ability to make you laugh and scream in equal measure, stemming from series creator Katie Dippold.
“The mandate was, ‘It’s a real world with real people. You play for real.’ There’s no playing for comedy or horror,” Rhys echoes O’Flynn’s sentiments on how freeing the series’ tone has been.
New episodes will release every Wednesday through June 17 only on Apple TV+.
Kate O’Flynn in “Widow’s Bay,” now streaming on Apple TV.
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