Panopticon Media and author Jennifer L Armentrout unlock reality series The Key

‘Romantasy’ author Jennifer L. Armentrout

LA-based Panopticon Media is teaming up with ‘romantasy’ author Jennifer L. Armentrout to produce hybrid reality challenge series The Key.

Armentrout is the writer of the Blood and Ash series of novels, which have attracted over 100 million views on BookTok. Romantasy is one of the fastest-growing literary genres, with sales driven mostly by young female readers who are active on social media platforms.

In the collaboration with Panopticon, Armentrout will contribute her storytelling skills to help develop the format.

The Key will see 15 contestants inhabit a village where they’ll live and compete in immersive themed challenges for priceless keys. The keys are used to buy luxuries, woo potential romantic partners and build alliances, all in a bid to unlock a lifechanging fortune.

Beatrice Rossmanith, founder of UK-based Mothership Media Consultancy, will unveil the project to buyers at next week’s Content London.

Armentrout said, “To create a show like The Key in which real people live out their own adventures in the Romantasy world that I love is very exciting. I am looking forward to taking this next step into storytelling that blurs the lines between fiction and reality.”

Hugh Wright, president, Panopticon, said: “Jennifer has employed her legendary world- building and storytelling skills to craft an extraordinary reality format that combines romance, fantasy and adventure in a world we have never seen before in reality TV.

“The Key is pure escapist wish fulfilment that is sure to captivate her millions of fans and viewers around the world.”