After seven seasons on Netflix, the reality TV format The Circle is about to be reborn on a new platform. Hulu has officially ordered a new version of the cult program from Studio Lambert, marking a major turning point in the history of this social experiment that has become a reference in the genre. This relaunch is accompanied by structuring changes, including the arrival of celebrities and the introduction of public voting, a first in the history of the program in the United States.
A strategic relaunch for Hulu around a cult reality TV format
The return of The Circle on Hulu marks a significant movement in the landscape of television competition programming. After being one of Netflix’s first great successes in the field of competitive reality TV, the format is changing broadcasting houses following the lack of renewal by the platform after season 7, concluded in October 2024.
It is the streaming service Hulu which is now taking up the torch, by ordering a new version of the program from Studio Lambert, a production company already behind the original format and recent successes like The Traitors. This transition confirms the strategic interest of platforms for formats capable of generating continuous engagement.
The new version is part of a logic of reinvention rather than simple continuation. The program is thus presented as an “imagined” version, integrating new mechanisms and a more interactive approach with the public.
A redesigned format: celebrities, public voting and real-time broadcasting
The central concept of The Circle remains unchanged: candidates live isolated in separate apartments and communicate only via a digital interface inspired by social networks. They can choose to present themselves as they are or adopt a completely fictitious identity, opening the way to strategies of manipulation and concealment.
However, this new version introduces several major developments. The first concerns the integration of public figures alongside anonymous participants. This mix between celebrities and “ordinary” players constitutes a break with the original Netflix formula.
Another notable change: the introduction of public voting. For the first time in the history of the program in the United States, viewers will be able to directly influence the progress of the game, thus modifying the strategic balances between the candidates.
Finally, the production will adopt a so-called “fast-turnaround” format, with filming in real time. Unlike the majority of contemporary reality TV shows, often recorded several months before broadcast, this version will be closer to a live event, where audiences will be able to follow developments as they happen.
This positioning brings The Circle of certain formats like Big Brotherwhile retaining its singularity based on digital communication and identity anonymity.
A repositioning in a competitive reality TV market
The arrival of The Circle on Hulu comes in a context of strong competition between platforms to attract the most engaging reality TV formats. The program, initially launched in the United Kingdom in 2018 on Channel 4, experienced rapid international growth thanks to its American adaptation on Netflix from 2020.
The success of the format led to the production of several international versions, notably in France and Brazil, confirming its global potential. Its principle of “strategic catfishing”, often described as a cross between Catfish et Black Mirrorhad allowed him to stand out in an already saturated landscape.
Hulu’s decision is also part of a broader strategy to strengthen its competitive program offering. The service, owned by Disney, seeks to develop content capable of generating live audiences and generating strong social interactions, a key lever in the current streaming economy.
This direction is supported by several parallel initiatives from the production company Studio Lambert, already involved in other projects for Hulu, thus consolidating a strategic partnership around high-end reality TV.
A return that relaunches a franchise in search of renewal
While Netflix has never officially called the shutdown The Circle of “cancellation†, the absence of a new season since 2024 had left doubt over the future of the program. The move to Hulu puts an end to this uncertainty and opens a new phase for the franchise.
Production will be supervised by an experienced team, with Susan House as showrunner, already involved in the Netflix version and in several major American reality TV formats. Around her, several producers from Studio Lambert, Motion Entertainment and Omaha Productions are participating in the development of the project.
This change of platform also comes at a moment of transformation for the ecosystem of unscripted programs. Platforms are increasingly seeking to integrate interactivity and event broadcasting mechanisms in order to compete with traditional linear television formats.
In this context, the return of The Circle appears as an experimental laboratory, combining social gaming, real-time narration and public participation.
The relaunch of The Circle on Hulu illustrates the current changes in reality TV, between hybridization of formats, integration of celebrities and active participation of spectators. By changing platform and adopting a new interactive architecture, the program is given a second life and is part of a broader dynamic of transformation of streaming entertainment.
What to remember in several points
- The Circle leaves Netflix after seven seasons and joins Hulu
- The program is relaunched by Studio Lambert, producer of the original format
- The new version will include celebrities alongside anonymous candidates
- The public will be able to vote and directly influence the game
- The format will be shot in real time, a first for the franchise in the United States
- Hulu thus strengthens its strategy around reality TV competitions
