The Circle Moves to Hulu with Celebrity Contestants and Real-Time Audience Voting

For seven seasons, The Circle ran on Netflix, putting contestants through a sort of social experiment that doubled as a reality game show. Unfortunately for fans of the show, Netflix appeared to quietly cancel the series, as the streaming giant hadn’t renewed the popular show since the seventh season concluded in October 2024.

Now, it seems like the show has a surprising new home.

According to a report from Deadline, The Circle has found new life at Hulu as the streamer has ordered a new series of the show, securing the rights after the cancellation at Netflix. However, there will be some changes to the format of the show.

‘The Circle’

Running for seven seasons on Netflix, The Circle is a reality competition show that doubles as a sort of social experiment where contestants live in separate apartments within the same building and can only communicate with each other through a social media-style platform, never meeting face-to-face during the game. They can either present themselves authentically or create a completely fake persona, often called “catfishing.”

The core gameplay revolves around players rating each other, with the highest-rated contestants becoming “influencers” who have the power to block (eliminate) other players. The show was appealing to viewers due to the strategic blend of social manipulation, alliance-building, and the constant uncertainty about who’s being truthful versus playing a character.

The show was one of Netflix’s first hit shows in the reality television space and ran for seven seasons, spawning numerous international versions, including editions in Brazil, France, and Germany. However, it was quietly canceled following its seventh season when Netflix did not order a renewal.

Moving to Hulu

After seven seasons on Netflix, the show is now coming to Hulu, according to a report from Deadline, which called it “a surprising move by the Disney streamer.” However, there will be some changes to the format.

Unlike the Netflix version, which featured civilians as the contestants, the Hulu version will also feature celebrity contestants. It will also introduce audience voting for the first time in the United States and is being “reimagined” as a “fast-turnaround” social experiment.

While the previous seasons of the show were all filmed in advance, the Hulu version will be filmed in real time, giving viewers more access to the game with audience votes shaping the way it all plays out.

This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Jun 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.