NBC scraps plans for US version of Talpa reality format Million Dollar Island

Talpa’s Million Dollar Island remains in the works in other territories

US broadcast network NBC has decided not to proceed with its adaptation of Talpa reality survival format Million Dollar Island.

News of the cancellation comes around five months after NBC announced it had commissioned an American version of the show.

All3Media-backed Studio Lambert had been set to produce the US adaptation of the Dutch format, with Stephen Lambert, Tim Harcourt and Jack Burgess executive producing alongside John de Mol. In the format, 100 people are dropped on an uninhabited tropical island and tasked with surviving for two months.

NBC’s decision reportedly comes amid concerns over the size of the show’s budget. The cancellation also comes on the heels of news that NBCUniversal executive VP of unscripted content Jenny Groom has left the company. Reports suggest Corie Henson, the former executive VP, head of unscripted programming for TBS, TNT and truTV, will step into the role, though NBCU has not commented on Groom’s replacement.

The original Dutch version of Million Dollar Island was devised by Big Brother and The Voice creator John de Mol together with Wim van Dam and Jourik Vandervorst. It was shot in the Philippines and aired on Dutch network SBS6 in March. Amazon Prime in Holland also had a day-and-date SVoD second window.

While the US version won’t go ahead at NBC, several other local remakes are in the works. The format is being adapted in the Middle East and North Africa by MBC Group, with Dubai-based Blue Engine Studios producing. Talpa and Studio Lambert are also developing a UK version, but the project has not officially been greenlit.