Legendary sci-fi hero William Shatner is heading back to TV, where he will lead a new reality competition series on Fox titled “Stars on Mars.”
The 92-year-old actor isn’t listed as the host but is named as the frontman to lead Mission Control on the series that will take celebrities out of their cushy lifestyles and see them residing in close quarters on “Mars,” the Hollywood Reporter reported.
The household name celebrities will travel to “outer space” where they will live, eat and sleep on a space station that simulates life under the conditions of the red planet, producers said.
The contestants will also have to make alliances, strategize and indulge in some skulduggery to be the last “celebronaut” standing, the outlet noted.
Fox is sending celebrities to “Mars” for its latest competition series. The network has ordered ‘Stars on Mars’ with ‘Star Trek’ star William Shatner, who recently became the oldest man sent to space, serving as Mission Control https://t.co/ZrTL8D3zt3
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) April 13, 2023
Shatner experienced what life’s like outside our orbit when he blasted off to space in October 2021 with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
The “Star Trek” star is listed as providing words of wisdom and offering support to the stars as they try and complete missions and avoid being eliminated.
“Good news for our celebronauts from Mission Control,” Shatner said in a statement. “Thanks to lower gravity on Mars, you’ll weigh 62% less. Bad news: the air is unbreathable, so if you’re from L.A., it’ll remind you of home.”
Shatner, who is very active on Twitter, has yet to share any other news about what his role on the show will entail. But he did appear to tweet about his involvement on Thursday.
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“There are two things to watch on television – ‘The Masked Singer’ and coming soon ‘Stars on Mars’. #TheMaskedSinger,” he posted.
Allison Wallach, president of unscripted programming at Fox Entertainment, said the “moment I heard the pitch for Stars on Mars, I knew a show this bold, this big and this outlandish simply belonged on Fox,” Deadline noted.
“Watching celebrities take giant leaps out of their comfort zone and step into the unexpected will no doubt be truly transformational and comical,” she added. “Throughout, we will learn a lot about these stars, and when you factor in William Shatner leading the charge from Mission Control, we have the makings of a show that’s ready for blast off.”
“Stars on Mars” debuts on Fox on June 5.