UPDATED WITH TRAILER:
Jordan Peele is bringing back the hidden camera prank show ‘Scare Tactics’, which originally aired on Syfy in 2003. The series, known for its unique blend of horror and comedy, will be reimagined and is set to debut on the USA Network this fall.
The original ‘Scare Tactics’ put ordinary people in terrifying situations with the help of Hollywood special effects, stunt, and makeup teams. This time, the show promises to turn unsuspecting individuals into the main characters of their own horror movies, with hilariously twisted scenarios that blur the lines between reality and fiction. Friends and family set up the participants, making for a heart-pounding, cinematic hidden camera experience that will leave audiences laughing, jumping, and wanting more.
Win Rosenfeld, president of Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, expressed his excitement about the project. “We’re so grateful at Monkeypaw to help reimagine one of our all-time favorite hidden camera shows. Working with showrunner Elan Gale, one of the most creative and mischievous minds in unscripted television, and Scott Hallock, the brilliant creator of the original ‘Scare Tactics’, has been an absolute blast. It’s cathartic and hilarious to watch people get a little scared, and the scenarios we cooked up for this season are really wild. We can’t wait to share a little light-hearted schadenfreude with audiences soon.”
Scott Hallock, creator of the original series, also expressed his enthusiasm for the revival. “Reimagining ‘Scare Tactics’ with Jordan, Monkeypaw, and UTAS has been a dream come true. Fans have been asking us to bring ‘Scare Tactics’ back for years, and working with this team was an amazing opportunity. There’s no one better at horror and comedy than Jordan and Monkeypaw.”
The original ‘Scare Tactics’ aired for five seasons on Syfy, featuring hosts like Shannen Doherty, Stephen Baldwin, and Tracy Morgan. Pranks on the show ranged from making campers believe they were being attacked by Big Foot to staging a UFO abduction.
Toby Gorman, president of Universal Television Alternative Studio, added, “What do you get when you combine Jordan Peele, hidden cameras, unsuspecting people, and horror-movie scenarios? You’re about to find out! Working with Monkeypaw Productions, NBCU, and USA Network to bring one of the most creatively scary and hilarious projects to life has been a phenomenal experience. We can’t wait for audiences to join in the fun of our first unscripted project with Jordan as it perfectly blends horror, humor, and reality.”
‘Scare Tactics’ is produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio in association with Monkeypaw Productions and WMTI Productions, Inc. Peele, Rosenfeld, and Jamal Watson executive produce for Monkeypaw, while Scott Hallock executive produces for WMTI Productions, Inc. Elan Gale serves as executive producer and showrunner. The ‘Scare Tactics’ format is owned by WMTI Productions, Inc.