The format is inspired by the Greek myth in which Pandora, the first mortal woman on Earth, was given a sealed box by the gods with one command: never open it. But curiosity prevailed, and with the lid lifted, chaos was unleashed upon the world.

In Pandora’s Box, that pivotal moment is brought into the present. Celebrity contestants, driven by ambition and strategy, enter a myth-inspired world where one question defines their fate: will they dare to open Pandora’s Box?

The  concept was originally developed by RTL Nederland’s Creative Unit, which also co-created The Traitors, a hit show that has been adapted in more than 30 countries, including Germany, France and Hungary. Pandora’s Box came to life with strong support from the RTL Group Programme Synergy Committee (SyCo) and was co-developed with Fremantle and Blue Circle, a Fremantle company based in the Netherlands. Fremantle handles international production and distribution. Global rollout will start next week with a dedicated launch event at Mipcom in Cannes.

“Partnering with RTL Nederland’s Creative Unit on this original format has been a rewarding experience. From the start the ambition was clear – to bring the myth of Pandora to life by reinventing it as a gripping reality experience that tests human nature”, says Andrew Llinares, Director of Global Entertainment at Fremantle. “The rule sounds simple: don’t open the Box. But when faced with temptation, players driven by curiosity, suspicion, and revenge make dramatic choices to survive to the end. Each episode hooks viewers with edge-of-your-seat action and builds to big, climactic moments. We can’t wait to unleash this spectacular new series and invite audiences to step inside the world of Pandora’s Box.”

Taking on Hungary first

Three productions are currently underway: in the Netherlands, Blue Circle is producing the series for RTL Nederland’s RTL 4; Studio89 is adapting the format for M6 in France; and UFA Produkció will deliver the Hungarian version for RTL, where the format will make its global debut.

Sixteen Hungarian celebrities will participate in Pandora – A szelence átka (Pandora – Curse of the Box). Contestants’ main dilemma is whether to open Pandora’s box or not, which secretly contains the names of cursed contestants, marking them for elimination. Keeping Pandora’s box closed grows the prize money. While opening it might change a player’s fate, it also comes at a cost: the prize drops.

As players battle to keep their names out of the box, they must prove their determination through skill, logic, strategy and team-building challenges – from boulder-rolling trials inspired by Sisyphus to tense encounters with Medusa’s gaze. They also have to play their cards wisely to find allies they can rely on under any circumstances.

Each task determines who gains the power to open the box and reveal who’s cursed. That player can swap names, but risks triggering trouble for everyone. Every round ends in a duel between two cursed players, fighting to stay in the game. With shifting alliances and constant surprises, each episode brings fresh drama and new twists.

Pandora – A szelence átka was filmed in Malta and is hosted by acclaimed Hungarian actor Gábor Hevér. The series is set to premiere on RTL Hungary’s channels on 20 October. Are you ready to open the box?