Venerable fashion reality series Project Runway is on the move again, this time headed to Freeform. The Disney network has closed a deal with Spyglass Media Group to bring the reality competition back for a 10-episode new season in 2025.
Staying on for the Freeform incarnation of Project Runway are producers Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz from Alfred Street Industries. No host or judges are being announced yet for the series, which will air weekly on the network and will be available to stream shortly after on Disney+ and Hulu.
Project Runway was a breakout hit when it launched two decades ago on Bravo with Cutforth and Lipsitz (then of Magical Elves) as executive producers. After five highly-rated seasons on the NBCUniversal network from 2004-2008, the series moved to Lifetime in a blockbuster deal between the cable network and The Weinstein Company that triggered bitter litigation.
In May 2018, NBCUniversal announced at its May upfront that Project Runway would be making a return to Bravo. Also back were Cutforth and Lipsitz, replacing Bunim-Murray, the production company that did the show during its Lifetime run. The came year, longtime host Heidi Klum the designers’ mentor Tim Gunn both left to headline another fashion competition show, Making the Cut, for Amazon.
Since the return to Bravo, Project Runway has aired three regular seasons, the last one in 2021, and one all-stars edition, which ran last year.
According to sources, NBCUniversal opted not to renew the series, with Spyglass shopping it to other networks, landing at Freeform.
Just like it did for Lifetime 15 years ago, Project Runway is expected to raise Freeform’s profile in the unscripted space, which the Disney network has been leaning into in a major way following its scripted retreat.
Disney is home for the new incarnation of another signature NBCU reality series, E!’s Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Its followup, The Kardashians, is among Hulu’s most popular originals.
“Project Runway is an iconic television juggernaut that perfectly complements the pop-culture spirit at Freeform,” said Simran Sethi, president, scripted programming, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, who oversees Freeform’s slate. “We are excited to welcome the original series to the Disney family and reignite the fanbase alongside Spyglass and Alfred Street, giving viewers the chance to once again share in discovering the next generation of exceptionally talented fashion designers.”
Project Runway is produced by Spyglass Media Group and Alfred Street Industries. Gary Barber serves as executive producer for Spyglass. Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Dan Volpe and Nan Strait serve as executive producers for Alfred Street Industries.
“For 20 seasons, Project Runway has captured viewers’ attention and cultivated a loyal following,” said Barber, chairman and CEO of Spyglass. “The series has proven to be a valuable and enduring brand worldwide, and we could not be more excited to broaden the show’s breadth of viewership within the Freeform, Hulu and Disney+ ecosystem.”
Project Runway, which has aired in more than 125 countries, has launched the careers of prolific designers, including Christian Siriano, Austin Scarlett, Leanne Marshall, Irina Shabayeva, Michael Costello and Bishme Cromartie, among many others.
“It is exciting and inspiring to have the opportunity to guide the evolution of Project Runway for a new generation,” said Cutforth. “The challenge to stay relevant while the world is changing at lightning speed, makes us eager to not only honor our die-hard ‘Project Runway’ fans but also to introduce fresh and innovative ideas,” added Lipsitz.