Fear Factor never simply aired; it pounced onto American television like a daredevil with questionable life choices. The show turned everyday people into temporary superheroes who willingly ate insects, dangled from helicopters, or wrestled with reptiles for prize money and pride. Hosted by Joe Rogan, it delivered a blend of chaos, courage, and comedy that viewers eagerly devoured. It has been almost six years since a new season last graced screens, leaving a cliffhanger bigger than any stunt —not only in terms of the show's return but also the host's.

Now that the show is returning, it is arriving only halfway, without Joe Rogan, leaving everyone inquisitive about his puzzling absence.

Joe Rogan’s absence from the 2025 revival of Fear Factor appears to stem from his longstanding dissatisfaction with the program, which he has openly discussed over the years. On The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan repeatedly described hosting duties as “mindless” and “boring,” and admitted to using cannabis before filming to tolerate the monotony. He expressed similar sentiments in a 2008 Denver Post interview, emphasizing that although the pay was attractive, the work felt dull and creatively unrewarding for him.

These remarks, paired with his comments on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, suggest that Joe Rogan had no desire to revisit a project he found creatively draining, repetitive, and misaligned with his current career priorities in 2025. Maybe he is more inclined to change people's minds by hyping Netflix's How to Change Your Mind.

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Joe Rogan might be sitting out this season of Fear Factor, but fear not, someone new is ready to dangle from helicopters in his stead.

Johnny Knoxville has been appointed as the new host of the forthcoming Fear Factor reboot, Fear Factor: The Next Chapter, scheduled to debut on Fox during the 2025–2026 television season. Knoxville, celebrated for his daredevil legacy in Jackass, brings a résumé built on outrageous stunts and a talent for turning chaos into entertainment. The refreshed format will place contestants in a remote location, combining traditional physical challenges with social strategy, creating a hybrid of endurance, nerve, and psychological gameplay.

Although Knoxville has never helmed Fear Factor before, his tenure leading prank-driven and stunt-centric programmes, including The Prank Panel, positions him as a fitting successor to Joseph Rogan and Ludacris. With Knoxville’s flair for mischief and fear-friendly showmanship, the reboot seems poised to honour the show’s legacy while embracing a wilder chapter, neatly tying a bow on this host-switch narrative.

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Are you excited for the return of the Fear Factor? Let us know in the comments below.