FOX CHALLENGES PARTICIPANTS TO CREATE A
PERFECT “UTOPIA,”
IN BOLD NEW UNSCRIPTED SOCIAL EXPERIMENT
Ambitious Project Created and Executive-Produced by
John de Mol
To Air on FOX and Online
Can a perfect world be created? From unscripted mastermind
John de Mol, and based on the hit Dutch television series of the
same name, UTOPIA is a bold new unscripted series that moves
a group of everyday people to an isolated, undeveloped location
– for an entire year – and challenges them to create their own
civilization.
“UTOPIA will be the largest, most ambitious social
experiment on television, and I’m thrilled that Talpa Media
USA has chosen FOX as its U.S. broadcast partner,” said
Simon Andreae, Executive Vice President of Alternative
Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. ”The series
offers people from all walks of life the chance to start all over
again and re-write the rules of civilization as we know it. It
addresses fascinating and fundamental questions about
human law, morality and social structures, wrapped in an
irresistible and truly forward-thinking television format.”
“FOX’s speed and passion for the project, combined with its
pioneering reputation in the unscripted field, make it the perfect
home for this unique proposition,” said de Mol. “The key
questions UTOPIA asks are ‘Are people able to create an ideal
society from scratch, without a given leader and without any
rules? And will it be ultimate happiness or complete chaos?’
What makes this even more interesting to watch, both on
television and online, is the question that viewers undoubtedly
will ask themselves, ‘What would I do?’”
With no existing power structures and limited amenities, these
“pioneers” must draw on their own ideals and everything they
know about societies around the world, to create a new one…will
it be better? Will they rewrite the rules they have always lived
by? Will they falter or prosper?
As the Utopians build the new society, every decision counts.
Each must try to become indispensable to the group or risk being
exiled to their regular lives and replaced by potential newcomers
who have been vying to join.
With cameras following the Utopians 24/7, viewers can watch
their society unfold, both weekly on FOX and also online. As they
observe the inhabitants living together, and building their new
existence, viewers themselves will have the chance to become a
valuable and powerful asset to the community, and ultimately to
question whether Utopia remains an elusive but alluring fantasy,
or whether the pioneers have truly realized their dream.
“Utopia,” which debuted in The Netherlands earlier this
month, was an instant sensation, ranking as one of SBS 6’s
highest-rated premieres in six years. On the first night, the
debut achieved more than 25% market share in the country’s
key 20-49 demographic. On the second night, the series
retained most of its launch audience with a 24.5% market
share.
UTOPIA is a presentation of Talpa Media USA. The show is
created by John de Mol who will also executive-produce.