Mark Burnett has enlisted Bear Grylls for a revival of the outdoor adventure series “Eco-Challenge” from MGM Television.
The reality competition series, which first ran for 10 seasons beginning in 1995, featured teams of four racing 24 hours a day over a rugged 300-mile multi-country course using skills including mountaineering, horseback riding, sea kayaking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, camel riding and canyoneering.
Burnett and Grylls’ will executive produce the new series, along with Grylls’s producing partner Delbert Shoopman and Burnett’s adventure production team of Lisa Hennessy, Scott Flavelle and Kevin Hodder.
“The most asked question in my entire career is ‘will you ever bring back Eco-Challenge?’ and I’d always known we needed the correct authentic figure head to lead us forward effectively,” Burnett said in a statement. “Bear Grylls is that leader. He’s tough, he’s smart and he’s extremely capable in both the wilderness and in the boardroom. He’s my friend and I couldn’t be happier and I’d gladly follow him.”
“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. 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,” added Grylls.
The project is currently in search of a network and location, and is expected to begin shooting in late 2019.