Warner Bros Discovery reboots Body Bizarre

Medical format Body Bizarre is to be rebooted by Warner Bros. Discovery in EMEA.

The 10 x 45-minute series hails from Future Studios in partnership with WBD and distributor TVF International (TVFI), and follows the journey of individuals from around the world who are striving to overcome medical conditions and disabilities.

Future produced the original show with Zig Zag for Discovery Channel, with it running for six series between 2013 and 2018 on Discovery Channel.

Featuring the same three-stories-per-episode structure as the original, the series is set to be rolled out next year on WBD’s linear channels and streaming platforms in the UK, Nordics, Iberia, Germany, Benelux, Italy, France, Middle East, Africa, CEE, and Poland.

One episode will follow Amit who lost his eye aged 11 due to a condition which sees tumours grow on nerves all over his body; Mari who, aged 19, woke up paralysed from the waist down; and nine-year-old Rajeshwari, who suffers from a rare skin condition that causes extreme blisters.

TVFI and Future presented the series to buyers at Mipcom last week (21-24 October).

Myriam Lopez-Otazu, group vice-president of content & acquisitions, EMEA at WBD, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Future to bring back one of our best loved medical series that still resonates with audiences internationally.

“The show is going back to its roots, with the same three story in-depth, medical focused structure of the original Body Bizarre, but with the celebratory elements of previous Future series Unbelievable Me bringing it up to date for 2025, each story with incredible heart and resilience at its core.”

Dean McDonald, Future’s senior production manager at Future, added: “This season will continue to touch the hearts of our devoted fanbase while also reaching out to new viewers, sharing the remarkable and sometimes heart-wrenching extraordinary medical stories of the brave individuals featured in the latest season of Body Bizarre.”

Poppy McAlister, head of TVFI, said: “We are so pleased to see the return of this uplifting and important series which raises awareness of some of the most rare and misunderstood illnesses across the globe. The expansion of the series is testament to it’s incredible success.”