Prepare the Eliminator, American Gladiators is making its much-awaited return.
Amazon has officially ordered a reboot of the classic competition series for Prime Video. This revival is produced by MGM Alternative and Amazon MGM Studios in collaboration with Flor-Jon Films, helmed by American Gladiators co-creator Johnny C. Ferraro.
The original American Gladiator was a big hit and ran for almost seven years from 1989 to 1996.
American Gladiators was a groundbreaking show, one of the first reality competition series that pitted amateur athletes against the show’s own gladiators in various physical challenges, including the memorable obstacle course.
Classic Competitions and New Beginnings
The new series promises to include iconic competitions such as Gauntlet, Hang Tough, and The Eliminator.
This move follows a successful revival by the BBC which saw ongoing success with new generations of gladiators. That version became one of their biggest entertainment hits in nearly a decade and secured a second season in no time.
A History of Reboots
The show saw a notable reboot by NBC in 2008 during the Writers Guild of America strike. Hosted by Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali, it ran for two seasons but wasn’t as successful as hoped.
Additionally, there have been other attempts to bring it back. Notably, A. Smith & Co., best known for American Ninja Warrior, developed a new take in 2014 that never aired
. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg also made an attempt in 2018 to coincide with the show’s 30th anniversary but met no success.
Nostalgia Through Documentation
Last year heralded a wave of nostalgia with documentaries. ESPN aired ’30 For 30: The American Gladiators Documentary’ while Netflix launched ‘Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators.’ Both offered a reflective look at the legacy of this sturdy franchise and the toll it took on its contestants.
A New Era with Amazon
This year Johnny C. Ferraro has teamed up with Range Sports to further explore the brand’s potential across TV, film, attractions, merchandising, and live events. Amazon ramped up its efforts on unscripted offerings with Prime Video and Freevee platforms featuring shows like ‘The 1% Club,’ hosted by Patton Oswalt, and reality competition series ‘The Goat,’ hosted by Daniel Tosh.
An Exciting Casting Search
Casting is currently underway, with Amazon aiming to find America’s fittest and fiercest competitors. Lauren Anderson, head of Brand and Content Innovation at Amazon MGM Studios remarked, Gladiators is an enduring, physical challenge format that continues to engage families around the world.
Barry Poznick, General Manager at MGM Alternative Media emphasized that their goal is to conduct a cross-country casting search
ensuring they capture a real cross-section of talents who will compete fiercely in this new rendition.
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