Mark Burnett‘s MGM has revived cancelled reality series Eco-Challenge, to premiere in 2019, with Bear Grylls to host and executive produce.
The original reality competition series, which survived nine seasons from 1995 to 2002, frequently featured more than 50 international teams of four racing 24 hours a day over an enduring 300-mile course comprising mountaineering, horseback riding, sea kayaking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, camel riding and canyoneering.
The series aired across MTV, ESPN, Discovery and USA Network. The search is on for a new network to air the revived cycle.
Per Deadline:
“Eco-Challenge is not a reality series, it’s a real expedition with a stop watch. It’s extremely difficult and you will suffer,” said Burnett and Grylls. “If you don’t want to suffer, don’t apply.”
Burnett and Grylls will executive produce the new Eco-Challenge with Grylls’ producing partner Delbert Shoopman. Burnett’s production team of Lisa Hennessy, Scott Flavelle and Kevin Hodder are also expected to join.
“Eco-Challenge is the ultimate global survival-adventure race, against the elements, against the clock, and against some of the greatest extreme athletes the world has ever seen,” said Grylls, who starred on Discovery’s Man Vs. Wild and toplines NBC’s adventure series Running Wild. “I am so proud to have partnered with MGM Television & the legendary Mark Burnett to bring this incredible adventure series to the world. This is raw human endeavor at its most powerful.”
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