Fremantle has launched Pandora’s Box, an all-new strategic reality contest that turns timeless myths into one or eight gameplay. The format was created by the Dutch RTL Creative Unit and developed in creative collaboration with Fremantle, and has already seen three global productions underway.
The show is inspired by Greek mythology. Pandora, the first human on earth, was given a sealed box by the gods with an order that “never open it.” Curiosity succumbed to her lid and unleashed chaos and evil in the world. This format brings that moment to today’s reality. Contestants competing for prize money must face the same challenge. That means stepping into a mythologically inspired world with one central premise. That’s whether he has the courage to open Pandora’s box.
Pandora’s Box hides the names of cursed contestants, and players fight to prevent their names from entering the box. In the ultimate challenge of seduction, players face the dilemma of choosing to protect their destiny or their wealth.
If you leave Pandora’s box closed, the bounty pot will rise. Opening it gives them a chance to change their fate, but in return the group loses their prize money, causing disastrous consequences, and suspicions spread. This is a game of strategy, sacrifice and suspense, with the power to rewrite fate changing from episode to episode.
From the challenge of rolling rocks inspired by Sisyphus to tense encounters with Medusa’s gaze, every quest will determine who will gain the strategic power to decide who will visit Pandora’s Box against a stunning backdrop of ancient Greece. If a player opens the box to know who is cursed, they can exchange names with another player, but they risk causing evil effects that will cause the entire group to suffer.
Each cycle climaxes in a showdown between two cursed players who face off head-on in duels to avoid defeat and fight to survive. The game is designed to reset every episode to create new alliances and new betrayals, ensuring unpredictability and escalating drama.
Pandora’s Box is an original concept for the RTL creative unit that co-produced “The Traitors,” and was developed jointly with Fremantle and the Dutch Fremantle company Blue Circle. Three productions are already underway, and Blue Circle is producing a series of RTL 4 in the Netherlands. Studio89 is creating formatting the M6 in France. UFA is producing for Hungary’s RTL. Fremantle is responsible for international production and distribution.
“We’ve seen a lot of effort into making our customers more comfortable,” said Andrew Linares, director of global entertainment at Fremantle. “Parting with RTL’s creative units in this unique format was a rewarding experience. Ambition was clear from the start. Breaking Pandora’s mythology to life by reinventing it as a fascinating experience of reality that tests human nature. The rules sound simple. Don’t open the box. But when faced with seduction, curious, doubtful and revenge players create a dramatic story. Choices to survive to the end. Each episode captivates the viewers with the action in front of them, heading towards a big climactic moment. We can’t wait to release this amazing new series and let their viewers step into the world of Pandora’s Box.”
“An audience around the world is eager to advance the next evolution of a strategic reality format with originality and a distinct and distinctive identity. Pandora’s Box offers both. It is rooted in symbolism-rich centuries-old mythology, exploring universal themes of seduction, disobedience, responsibility, hope, and the ability to overcome humanity. This format feels both.” It’s a timeless and completely fresh production and we’re excited to be able to deliver it to our audience. ”
