‘The Traitors’ Heads to NBC With Civilian Version of Backstabbing Game

The realm of The Traitors is expanding — in both who gets to play the game and where the show runs.

NBC has picked up a version of the game that will feature civilian players, rather than the reality TV veterans and other celebrities who have populated Peacock’s iteration of The Traitors. Alan Cumming, who hosts the Peacock show, will also lead the NBC version.

Production on the network’s version is set to begin next year; the show is taking applications for potential contestants now. There’s no word yet on an air date.

Peacock will continue streaming its iteration of The Traitors for at least two more seasons. The show has been renewed through its fifth installment, and season four has announced its cast.

“We’re excited to bring along The Traitors’ highly [engaged] fan base as we discover the next generation of legendary gamers and schemers,” said Sharon Vuong, executive vp unscripted programming at NBCUniversal Entertainment. “With our resident host and gameplay master of ceremonies, Alan Cumming, on board to introduce complete strangers to new epic missions and twisted gameplay, this new version for NBC offers a unique opportunity for the cast and audience to meet each other for the first time and we know it will be incredible to watch.”

The Traitors has been one of Peacock’s more successful series since its launch. Season three, which premiered in January, spent five weeks on Nielsen’s top 10 original streaming series charts. The season also earned five Emmy nominations, including outstanding reality competition show and outstanding reality host for Cumming.

“The Traitors format has proven itself as one of the most gripping and talked-about reality competition shows in the world,” said Stephen Lambert, CEO of series producer Studio Lambert (which is part of All3 Media). “We’re thrilled to be working with NBC to open up the experience to a new group of civilian players, whose stories and strategies will make the gameplay even more unpredictable — and, we hope, even more addictive for viewers.”

The executive producers for The Traitors are Cumming, Mike Cotton, Sam Rees-Jones, Rosie Franks, Jack Burgess, Lambert and Tim Harcourt.