Latest news with #realitycompetition
Gizmodo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Squid Game: The Challenge' Is Getting a Third Season Because Capitalism Is Inevitable
The fictional Squid Game as we know it is over—for now, at least—but Netflix would like you to remember that it has an offshoot reality competition that's still very much active. On the heels of announcing that Squid Game: The Challenge season two will drop November 4, the streamer has also let it be known it's now accepting applications for season three. The first season of Squid Game: The Challenge weathered its share of controversy; not only did its very existence fly in the face of the fictional series' anti-capitalist themes, but some participants emerged with complaints about harsh and injury-prone working conditions. However, it proved to be a smash hit for the streamer, riding the coattails of Hwang Dong-hyuk's blockbuster sensation to ratings glory. Naturally, it was renewed, because even if Hwang can't be lured back for more, Netflix can keep milking Squid Game's cultural relevance with this spin-off of its own creation. Unlike the original series, players don't actually die if they fail in The Challenge—our real-life dystopia isn't quite there… yet—though the games are modeled after what's seen in the show. The teaser for season two suggests certain inspiration from Squid Game season two, particularly the harrowing six-legged race. The top prize in The Challenge is $4.56 million, which is quite a bit less than the fictional prize (456 billion won, as seen in the original series, is worth around $38 million). Still, that ain't chump change; a press release from Netflix notes that 81,000 people applied ahead of season one, with 456 (obviously) making the final cut. To learn how to toss your hat in for season three, check out the casting page here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
5 New Netflix Titles Coming In July 2025 That Are Worth The Binge
Megan Stalter in 'Too Much' on Netflix. Summer is the perfect time to rest, relax, and, of course, binge-watch some great shows and movies. In July, Netflix has so many great options, but for the sake of a doable watch list, here are five standouts. Viewers can go on an adventure to find sharks in the most beautiful locations, cross the pond for love, investigate the real-life cold case of a woman who went missing decades ago while on a cruise, dig into a fictional murder investigation in the remote wilderness, and follow a woman's hilarious journey starting over after her husband leaves her for another woman after more than 30 years of marriage. 'All The Sharks' is coming to Netflix in July 2025. All the Sharks (July 4) This reality competition series features four teams of passionate shark experts as they embark on the ultimate adventure to find and photograph the most sharks. Racing against time and each other, these teams dive into the world's most spectacular shark habitats, all in hopes of winning a $50,000 prize for their chosen marine charity. Over six action-packed episodes, they'll travel from the crystal-clear Caribbean waters to the mysterious depths of the Pacific, where they will come face-to-toothy-face with incredible species, such as the critically endangered Great Hammerhead and the remarkable walking Epaulette Shark. Blending breathtaking visuals, fin-tastic shark facts, and stunning underwater encounters, this is a fun, educational, and fast-paced journey into the misunderstood world of sharks, showcasing why these incredible creatures are more vital to our planet than ever before. Will Sharpe and Megan Stalter in 'Too Much' on Netflix. Too Much (July 10) Lena Dunham is a wonder. She co-created this series with Luis Felber and wrote and directed eight of the ten episodes. In addition, Dunham stars in and executive produced this dramedy that follows the hilarious Megan Stalter as Jessica, a thirty-something New Yorker with big dreams and an even bigger heart. The latter gets her into trouble as she feels things perhaps a little 'too much,' or maybe that's just how people who don't get her would describe her. After a painful breakup, Jessica packs her bags and her adorable dog and moves to London for a work opportunity and a new life. Though she's sworn off love, she soon meets struggling musician Felix (Will Sharpe) and they have an immediate and undeniable connection. Too much? I couldn't get enough of this rom-com from the creator of Girls and the producers of Love Actually. This is a story for anyone who has ever tried to run away from a broken heart only to learn the all-important lesson that wherever you go, there you are. Life's problems always have a way of finding you until you heal and move on. Starring alongside Stalter and Sharpe are Michael Zegan, Janicza Bravo, Richard E. Grant, Rita Wilson, Naomi Watts, Andrew Rannells, Rhea Perlman, Emily Ratajkowski, and Adwoa Aboah. Dunham executive produces alongside Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Michael P. Cohen, Surian Fletcher-Jones, Bruce Eric Kaplan, and producer Camilla Bray. What happened to Amy Bradley? Amy Bradley Is Missing (July 16) This three-part docuseries from directors and executive producers Ari Mark and Phil Lott explores the mystery behind the disappearance of a young woman during a cruise. On March 23, 1998, 23-year-old Amy Bradley and her family were enjoying a vacation on a cruise ship when she went missing. She vanished without a trace, and despite a thorough search of the ship, there was no sign of Amy. The cruise had already docked at their next port, Curaçao, which opened the door for 2400 passengers to explore the island and potentially allow Amy to disappear into the crowd. Hours later, Amy was still nowhere to be found, and fears grew that she may have fallen overboard before arriving at port. However, a body was never discovered. The search for Amy expanded as the FBI and local authorities launched an investigation, turning everyone into a potential suspect. Mark and Lott delve deeply into this decades-old cold case as her family and friends continue their search for answers. Over the years, there have been possible sightings of Amy in various locations by multiple people. Is it really her? Was this a tragic accident or a crime? For Amy's family, only one thing matters: bringing their daughter home alive. Eric Bana in 'Untamed' on Netflix. Untamed (July 17) This six-episode mystery-thriller is set in Yosemite, but the beauty of this national park hides a very dark secret. The limited series is centered around Kyle Turner (Eric Bana), a special agent for the National Parks Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB), as he tries to uncover what caused a young woman's horrifyingly violent death. Immediately, within the first minutes of the pilot episode, the viewer will be hooked. It's great to see Bana back on screen as this tortured man forced to face secrets in the park and his past. Also starring are Sam Neill as Yosemite's Chief Park Ranger Paul Souter; Rosemary DeWitt as Kyle's ex-wife Jill Bodwin, with whom he remains close friends; Lily Santiago as Naya Vasquez, a former Los Angeles police officer-turned-park ranger who joins Kyle on the search for justice; and Wilson Bethel as former Army ranger Shane Maguire who now serves as the park's Wildlife Management Officer. This gripping show comes from executive producers Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, who also serve as co-showrunners, as well as Bana, John Wells, and Erin Jontow via John Wells Productions; Todd Black and Tony Shaw for Escape Artists Entertainment; Steve Lee Jones for Bee Holder Productions; Cliff Roberts for Syndicate Entertainment. Once you start the binge with this one, it's nearly impossible to stop. Kristen Johnston and Leanne Morgan in 'Leanne' on Netflix. Leanne (July 31) Comedian Leanne Morgan helms this 16-episode comedy about a woman whose life takes an unexpected turn when her husband of 33 years leaves her for another woman. Starting over when you're a grandmother and in menopause isn't exactly what she had in mind. With the help of her family, including her sister Carol (Kristen Johnston), she will navigate this new chapter with grace, dignity, and jello salad. Morgan executive produces alongside Chuck Lorre, Judi Marmel, and Susan McMartin for this classic sitcom about starting over a little later in life. As always, happy binge-watching!
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kylie Kelce Reveals What's Working ‘Against' Mother-in-Law Donna Kelce on 'Traitors'
Kylie Kelce discussed her mother-in-law Donna Kelce's upcoming stint on season 4 of The Traitors Kylie isn't sure whether Donna's "innocence and honesty" will work in her favor on the show Jason and Travis Kelce have both discussed the possibility of joining the reality competition series in the futureKylie Kelce isn't sure how her mother-in-law Donna Kelce will fare in her stint on The Traitors. After Donna, 72, was announced as a member of the season 4 cast of the Peacock reality show, Kylie, 33, shared she planned to tune in. 'I guess I'm gonna have to watch the next season of Traitors!' Kylie said on the June 19 episode of her Not Gonna Lie podcast. 'That's right, Donna Kelce, my mother-in-law, is on this coming season of Traitors. Have I watched Traitors? Not a whole season. Am I excited to watch Donna? 1000% Imma cheer her on until the end of time.' However, Kylie is concerned that there are a few traits of Donna's that might limit her time on the show. 'I'm not gonna lie, though, her innocence and honesty is working against her … or for her,' she mused. 'Oh, if she's a faithful, maybe it works for her. Oh! We're all on the edge of our seat. I'm excited. Come on, Donna, win it!' Kylie isn't the only member of the Kelce family weighing in on Donna's Traitors stint. The matriarch's ex-husband and the father of Jason and Travis Kelce, Ed Kelce, was also asked about how he thought Donna would do on the show. 'Haven't got a f------ clue,' Ed admitted on the June 18 episode of Jason and Travis' New Heights podcast. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Jason and Travis have discussed the possibility of participating in the competition show on previous episodes of New Heights. "Traitors? I'm terrible," Jason said, as he recalled his one experience attempting to recreate the game with friends despite being an "awful liar." "I'm not savvy enough. We did it one time, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. I was voted ... right away, they knew. They're like, 'Jason's a traitor' and I was like, 'No I'm not!' " Travis said he "f------ love[s]" watching the show and seeing "how someone reacts under pressure," while Jason said he's often "taking notes" when he watches. "There's some people that say some stuff where you're like, 'Wow, that's a good one.' " Donna will be facing off against other stars and reality show gamers, including Lisa Rinna, Dorinda Medley, Stephen Colletti, Colton Underwood, Michael Rapaport, Johnny Weir and more. The competitors will be facing off to win the $250,000 cash prize. Read the original article on People
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘King Of Drag' Becomes The First Reality Show Centered On Drag Kings
For the first time TV history, a show with an exciting new premise titled 'King of Drag,' will showcase drag kings exclusively in a reality competition show. Airing on Revry, a free LGBT+ streaming app. The trailer for the show was released earlier this month, and it's entertaining and ambitious. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 11: Murray Hill (L) and Tenderoni attend the 13th annual Queerties ... More Awards at AVALON Hollywood on March 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) For years, fans of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' have argued, outside of their usual arguments concerning who they want to win the title of 'America's next drag superstar,' about one question when it comes to contestants, and that's whether Drag Kings should be featured on Drag Race. Some fans have argued that as the show's host, RuPaul, is exclusively judging contestants from his expertise as one of, if not the, most powerful drag queens on the planet and that, while there are drag competitions outside of the show that include both drag queens and kings, the premise of Drag Race is for drag queens to compete against one another. On the other side of the debate, fans in favor of drag kings competing on Drag Race have argued that if Drag Race has been called the 'Olympics of drag' by judges and fans alike, then drag kings should be included. Some contestants, like Victoria Scone, a non-binary drag queen who identifies as female, have even performed as drag kings for lip-syncs as a nod to drag kings. Even outside of Drag Race, drag competitions like 'Dragula,' hosted by the Boulet Brothers, have had drag kings and queens competing alongside one another for years. Gottmik at the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards held at the New York Hilton Midtown on May 11, 2024 in ... More New York City. (Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images) Instead of waiting for fans to figure out what they want out of the show, drag kings have built their platform, with Murray Hill, who starred as Fred Rococo on HBO's 'Somebody Somewhere,' acting as the host of King of Drag. To aid him, Drag race contestants and drag kings alike have signed on to act as guest judges, like Gottmik, from season 13 and 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' season 9, and Tenderoni, a drag king and household name in the Chicago drag scene, are only two names that were featured in the star studded trailer. Even with the introduction of a new show and platform for drag kings on the King of Drag, the question still remains about what this may mean for the future of Drag Race. It can be argued that RuPaul helped open doors for many queer and gender non-conforming drag artists, and while his name may not be part of it, King of Drag does benefit from Drag Race already existing as a platform. Still, one of the main draws for contestants on Drag Race is the opportunities and platform it offers. On Drag Race, you don't even have to win to become a household name. A queen only needs to get their name out into the public sphere and build upon their brand once they get onto the show and they're set, even for contestants that go home on the first episode, opportunities that previously weren't available. No matter what happens, King of Drag is sure to be another interesting gateway into the world of drag and, hopefully, it propels drag kings forward into success the same way that shows like Drag Race does for its contestants.
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
MrBeast's plot for biggest game show ever with $12m prize, celebs, and 7,000 players taking part on islands around world
THE new season of Beast Games is set to be filmed all over the world with a record multi-million-dollar jackpot for one of the lucky 7,000 competitors, a source close to MrBeast has told The U.S. Sun. The popular Amazon show, which attracted an incredible 50 million global viewers in its first 25 days, became the most-watched unscripted show in Prime Video's history. 4 4 4 MASSIVE PLANS YouTube sensation MrBeast, real name Jimmy Donaldson, has yet to officially confirm a new series. However, Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said at the Milken Institute Global Conference this week: "We're going to do a couple more seasons of that, I think, soon." The U.S. Sun has spoken to a longtime associate of MrBeast who claims this next installment could be "the biggest TV show ever." Beast Games is a reality competition where participants battle it out in physical, mental, and social challenges. The insider says locations in the African desert, South America, Greece, southern Europe, the Philippines, other parts of Asia, as well as a Midwestern location in the United States are being considered. The aim, according to the source, is to have 1,000 contestants in each location. There were 1,000 hopefuls in the entire 10-part show that began at the end of last year. This iteration, however, will have people competing against each other in different time zones. EXPANDED PRIZE POT The U.S. Sun understands the prize money will also increase from $10 million — which was the largest single game show prize in history — to $12 million. MrBeast is reportedly eyeing a "battle of the continents" with the goal of drawing in over 100 million viewers worldwide, doubling the numbers from the wildly successful first season. The plans include producing 12 to 15 episodes, with celebrities linked to the locations appearing at various intervals. With a healthy budget of $150 million — reports estimate season one cost $100 million to produce. Jeffrey Randall Allen, the winner of the first season, landed a cool $10 million but revealed in a podcast interview that, after taxes, he pocketed only half of that amount. Speaking to Deadline at a recent Contenders TV event, MrBeast hinted that the first shows were just the beginning, while one of his business partners, Sean Klitzner, said there were "an unlimited" number of ideas in the works. The U.S. Sun caught up with MrBeast, 26, at the Breakthrough Prize gala in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, last month. He shared his surprise at learning the $5 million prize on his Amazon Prime game show was the largest ever. "When we gave away $5 million and I saw that was the largest ever, I was like, I don't know," he said. In contrast, finalists on season 3 of Peacock's The Traitors split $204,300 four ways, with each taking home around $50,000 before taxes. Contestants on Love Island win about $63,000 pre-tax, while Big Brother offers $500,000-$750,000 prizes. Accompanied by fiancée Thea Booysen, MrBeast criticized TV networks for offering small prizes despite making billions in revenue. "They probably should give away more," he told The U.S. Sun. However, Beast Games has faced backlash after five participants alleged mistreatment, including unsafe conditions, lack of basic necessities, and harassment. A lawsuit filed last September accuses MrBeast's production company, Amazon, and Off One's Base LLC of failing to provide meals, breaks, hygiene access, and proper accommodations. Contestants described meals like cold oatmeal, raw veggies, and a hard-boiled egg. The plaintiffs seek transparency for future applicants, proper classification as employees, workplace reforms, and millions in damages. MrBeast has not publicly addressed the claims but tweeted in November that behind-the-scenes footage disproves the allegations. "We have tons of [clips] dropping when the show does to show how blown out of proportion these claims were," he wrote. "Jimmy is so excited about this new project," added the friend. "It's going to be full of crazy challenges, prizes, and surprises." The U.S. Sun contacted a spokesperson for MrBeast, but is yet to hear back. 4
