‘Fear Factor’ Vertical Scripted Spinoff Set To Launch On Holywater Tech’s My Drama From Fox & Endemol Shine North America

Fear Factor: House Of Fear is making the first-ever leap from an established unscripted television franchise to an original scripted series. The as-yet untitled Fear Factor vertical spinoff, from Fox Entertainment Studios and Endemol Shine North America, a Banijay America company, will debut on Holywater Tech‘s My Drama platform. Date TBA.

The series, which will consist of 30 three-minute episodes, is created from the ground up for mobile-first audiences, per Fox and Endemol Shine NA, “taking the thrills, tension, and terror synonymous with Fear Factor and reimagining the franchise as an entirely original fictional horror story.”

The vertical series takes place during prep week on a remote horror television set, where a practical-effects artist and her crew unleash a haunted fortune-telling machine that forces them into personalized death trials, leaving the survivors to uncover its tragic origins before it claims everyone they love.

The project also marks a move into scripted horror by My Drama.

“Fear Factor has always tapped into something primal: what scares us, how far we’ll go and what happens when we’re forced to confront our fears,” said Hannah Pillemer, Head of Scripted, Fox Entertainment Studios. “Michael Thorn and his network team saw the opportunity to bring this iconic franchise to Fox in a bold new way, successfully introducing House of Fear and the outrageous Johnny Knoxville to a whole new generation of fans. That tremendous response has opened the door to take Fear Factor somewhere it has never gone before: becoming the first unscripted television franchise to make the leap into original scripted storytelling. Our friends at Endemol Shine came to us with an inspired way to do exactly that, turning everything audiences love about Fear Factor into the foundation for a completely original horror story.”

“Few franchises are as naturally built for vertical as Fear Factor,” said Michael Heyerman, EVP, Unscripted Series, Endemol Shine North America. “Vertical storytelling is creating a new language for entertainment, one built on immediacy, intimacy, and serialized discovery, and Fear Factor already speaks it fluently. Our partners at Fox gave the franchise a powerful new life with House of Fear, and we’re proud to build on that momentum. Alongside Holywater, together we’re creating a new generation of horror that doesn’t just fit the mobile screen but uses it as part of the experience.”

The scripted spinoff comes on the heels of a Season 2 renewal for the Johnny Knoxville-hosted Fear Factor: House of Fear, which will premiere during the 2026-27 season. The reality competition series debuted on Fox and Hulu to 17.5 million multiplatform viewers, ranking as the season’s highest-rated broadcast debut and No. 1 new unscripted series among Adults 18-49, per Fox and Nielsen.

Fear Factor, a Banijay Entertainment format, has become a global television phenomenon with 32 adaptations worldwide.

The untitled Fear Factor scripted vertical series is produced by Fox Entertainment Studios and Endemol Shine North America. Written by Thom Woodley and Andrew Beck, the series is directed by Gabriel Caste and produced by Ian Nsenga and Yuliia Vyshnevska. It will debut on Holywater Tech’s My Drama platform with worldwide distribution managed by Fox Entertainment Global.