A New Chapter for the Social Experiment
The popular reality competition series The Circle has officially found a new home at Hulu. Following the conclusion of its seventh season on Netflix in October 2024, the streamer opted not to renew the format, leaving the door open for Disney-owned Hulu to acquire the rights. Produced by Studio Lambert, the series is set for a significant overhaul as it transitions to its new platform.
Hulu’s iteration of the show marks a departure from the civilian-only model that characterized the Netflix run. According to industry reports, the new version will incorporate celebrity contestants and shift to a “fast-turnaround” production style, mirroring the real-time engagement models popularized by shows like Love Island. Additionally, for the first time in the U.S. version, the audience will be granted the power to influence the game through live voting.
Strategic Pivot in Unscripted Television
The move aligns with a broader strategy at Walt Disney Television to capture the serialized reality market. Rob Mills, EVP of Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment, recently indicated a “concentrated” push into this space, bolstered by the success of high-profile projects like The Traitors. By integrating celebrity players—a formula that has proven successful for competitors—the producers aim to revitalize the social experiment’s dynamics.
The show’s core premise—contestants living in isolated apartments and interacting solely through a social media interface—will remain, but the introduction of audience participation represents a fundamental shift. While the Netflix version was often described as “Catfish meets Black Mirror,” the Hulu production will lean further into real-time interactivity. The production team, led by showrunner Susan House and executive producers including Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, faces the challenge of maintaining the original’s psychological intrigue while adapting to the demands of a faster-paced, celebrity-driven format.