Johnny Knoxville is heading back into the world of wild stunts, but this time he will be on the sidelines. FOX has announced that Knoxville will host a new version of Fear Factor, a modern update of the infamous competition series known for pushing contestants to their physical and mental limits. Titled Fear Factor: The Next Chapter, the show is set to premiere during the 2025 to 2026 TV season.
The new series will not just focus on terrifying dares and gross-out challenges. Contestants will live together in a remote location, adding a layer of tension and strategy. Along with traditional physical feats, players will face social media-style tasks and group-based mind games. The format seems designed for today’s audience, where viral moments, interpersonal drama, and emotional endurance matter just as much as physical strength.
Knoxville is best known for his work on Jackass, where he and his crew subjected themselves to some of the most outrageous stunts ever seen on TV. Whether it was snorting wasabi, getting launched in a portable toilet, or wrestling wild animals, Knoxville has built a career around fearlessness and absurdity. His hosting role here is not just a casting decision, it is a signal of what this new Fear Factor aims to be.
The original version of the show, which premiered in the early 2000s, was hosted by Joe Rogan and became famous for its high-stakes stunts and boundary-pushing content. Later, MTV rebooted it with Ludacris at the helm. Over the years, Fear Factor has become a cultural touchstone and occasional controversy magnet. One viewer even attempted to sue NBC after watching a stunt involving blended rats, claiming it made him violently ill. The case was quickly dismissed, but it highlighted the kind of extreme reactions the show could provoke.
This new version is being developed by Endemol Shine North America, the same production company behind the original. Sharon Levy, Michael Heyerman, Sean Loughlin, and Kevin Lee are all on board as executive producers. The show’s return comes at a time when audiences are more used to bizarre and intense content thanks to platforms like TikTok and YouTube. The team behind the reboot says they plan to embrace that evolution and build a version of Fear Factor that reflects current culture.
Michael Thorn, President of FOX Entertainment, called Knoxville the perfect host. In his words, Knoxville brings a mix of humor and unpredictability that fits this updated concept. He is not just there to introduce the challenges. He is expected to bring his personality into the show and shape how viewers experience each moment.
Knoxville has remained active in entertainment beyond Jackass, appearing in shows like The Studio and Reboot, as well as in films like The Dukes of Hazzard and The Ringer. His experience as both a performer and a producer gives him an edge in guiding a cast through the chaos of a show built on fear, risk, and spectacle.
With Fear Factor: The Next Chapter, FOX is not just reviving a show. They are reimagining it for a generation raised on reality TV, challenge videos, and influencer drama. And with Johnny Knoxville leading the charge, viewers can expect something loud, weird, and very hard to look away from.
Sources: Variety
gfpods.com 
Leave a comment