/indigomusic/media/media_files/2025/09/16/untitled-design-2025-09-16-12-46-35.png)
Image Courtesy: Deadline
'Gladiators' is preparing for a major revival in Germany following a 30-year gap. 'Gladiators–Die Show der Giganten' is the new moniker for the classic 1990s format, which Prime Video and RTL have partnered to bring back. RTL Studios will create the show, which will be shot in Düsseldorf and premiere in the spring of 2026. This historic game show is making a daring comeback by bridging the gap between streaming and traditional television by first streaming all episodes on Prime Video and then free-to-air broadcasts on RTL four weeks later.
What 'Gladiators–Die Show der Giganten' Will Look Like
/filters:format(webp)/indigomusic/media/media_files/2025/09/16/mj8j48wky3ytzbdwdtpgwe-2025-09-16-12-53-11.jpg)
Image Courtesy: WhatToWatch
The spirit of the original American Gladiators series from the 1990s will be preserved in the resurrected 'Gladiators–Die Show der Giganten,' but with a new and contemporary twist. In a series of physically demanding tasks, competitors will face off against a group of professional athletes known as "Gladiatoren" who are drawn from bodybuilding and strength sports.
The challenges will focus on athleticism, endurance, and spectacle, with the goal of being more spectacular and high-energy. The production of the program will be held in Messe Düsseldorf, where live recordings will be made. Live recording tickets are currently available for purchase.
The Original Gladiators: Muscle, Mayhem, and 90s Nostalgia
The original 'Gladiators' was an intense competition show that matched regular people against professional athletes known as "Gladiators" in a series of physically taxing tasks. It debuted in the United States in 1989 and later broadcast in Germany as 'American Gladiators' (1992–1994).
/filters:format(webp)/indigomusic/media/media_files/2025/09/16/2_wolf1-2025-09-16-12-49-50.jpg)
Image Courtesy: National World
From wrestling matches and obstacle courses to fan favorites like "The Joust" and "The Eliminator," these competitions challenged participants' strength, agility, and stamina. 'Gladiators,' which fused sport and entertainment into a gladiatorial spectacle for the modern era, swiftly became a worldwide television phenomenon thanks to its theatrical flair, flamboyant costumes, and outrageous personalities.
Distribution, Production & Nostalgia Factor
Regarding the release schedule, German Prime Video customers will have first dibs on every episode. Each episode will be accessible on RTL's free-to-air network four weeks following its Prime premiere, and earlier on RTL+ for streaming. Under the direction of Markus Küttner, RTL's entertainment president, RTL Studios is handling production, with Sandra Wächtershäuser serving as head of producers and Sabine Stark and Thorsten Gieselmann serving as executive producers.
/filters:format(webp)/indigomusic/media/media_files/2025/09/16/american-gladiators-8-06032024-dd0bc05c697e447eadd6dcc2ba84dcf6-2025-09-16-12-54-39.jpg)
Image Courtesy: Entertainment Weekly
Originally called 'American Gladiators,' the program ran on RTL in Germany from 1992 until 1994. The new version will be "intensiver, energiegeladener" (more intense, more energetic), according to the producers, who hope to provide a spectacle that embodies all the characteristics that made 'Gladiators' so popular.
