MrBeast’s record-breaking reality series puts Squid Game to shame
You could probably argue that reality TV has been made redundant at this stage. Shows that pit celebrities against each other and give regular people a chance to win big in hyper-produced games broadcast all over the world are great, but how can they compete with YouTube?
The video platform is a place where all of this content is made for your enjoyment, free of charge. The ever-changing landscape introduces new personalities seemingly on the daily. Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson has turned YouTube on its head and reduced high-budget reality TV to seeming like chicken feed.
MrBeast has done everything from running his own Squid Game competition to creating his own Wonka-esque chocolate factory (no, not the one in Glasgow that gave children nightmares.) Now, it seems that his stature as the face of new reality entertainment has brought the two worlds together.
MrBeast's Beast Games gets green light from Amazon
According to Variety, it looks like MrBeast is living out the dream of having his own gameshow, as Prime Video has offered the green light to his own show - and it's a literal record-breaker already. After Netflix's real-life Squid Games gave you a chance to win $4.56 million, Donaldson is upping the stakes.
A new deal has been signed between Jimmy Donaldson and Prime Video for a new show, Beast Games. The deal includes the biggest prize earnings for contestants in TV history, offering them a whopping $5 million.
MrBeast will host and executive produce the show, which Prime Video has revealed will see 1,000 contestants shoot for the cash prize in a "fast-paced and high-production format." Over on Twitter, MrBeast promised it will break more than just records for the prize pot, as well as promising more details later this year.
Beast Games is set to be incredibly ambitious
Click to enlarge"My goal is to make the greatest show possible and prove YouTubers and creators can succeed on other platforms," reads a statement from Donaldson. "Amazon gave me the creative control I need to try and make it happen. I hope to make the YouTube community proud."
"When MrBeast first told us about his concept for the show, we were blown away by his ambition to make Beast Games the biggest reality competition series ever," reveals head of television at Amazon MGM Studios Vernon Sanders, before thanking his team, and MrBeast for "kickstarting this journey for us."
This is a crossover that could make for some great TV - or, due to its format and appearance away from YouTube, be shunned by MrBeast's core audience. Only time will tell what comes next, but damn, does it all sound exciting.
