NBC orders US adaptation of Million Dollar Island from Studio Lambert, Talpa

In Million Dollar Island, 100 people are dropped on an uninhabited tropical island

American network NBC has ordered a US adaptation of Talpa’s adventure reality format Million Dollar Island.

Studio Lambert is producing the US version of the Dutch series, in which 100 people are dropped on an uninhabited tropical island and tasked with surviving for two months.

The greenlight from NBC marks the first international sale of the Dutch format and comes ahead of the show’s premiere on SBS6 in the Netherlands on March 6. The project will also have a day-and-date SVoD second window on Amazon Prime in the Netherlands.

Studio Lambert and Talpa revealed six weeks ago that they were joining forces for the first time to produce UK and US versions of Million Dollar Island. At the time, the prodcos did not reveal any broadcaster attachments.

Big Brother and The Voice creator John de Mol, the founder and chairman of Talpa, has already enjoyed a lucrative partnership with NBC, which has aired The Voice since 2011.

“I’m delighted that they’ll provide the perfect US home for this exciting new show,” said de Mol.

Stephen Lambert, Tim Harcourt and Jack Burgess are executive producing for All3Media-backed Studio Lambert, with de Mol also serving as an exec producer.

“The storytelling and strategy, along with a breathtakingly beautiful and remote landscape, will combine to offer viewers a gripping competition,” said Lambert.

Upon arriving on the island, each contestant is given a numbered bracelet worth US$10,000, so the 100 bracelets together are worth US$1m. The contestants gain and lose bracelets by competing in duels and challenges and by receiving them from those who quit.

Contestants can quit at any time. When they do, they must give their bracelet, or bracelets, and therefore the value, to one of the remaining contestants.

Jenny Groom, executive VP, alternative programming and development, NBC, added: “We’re excited to partner with a powerhouse team to bring this fresh and bold social experiment to NBC. This series is sure to entertain with ever-evolving alliances, trust, deceit and the ultimate will to survive.”