What’s in the box?!
No, this is not a scene out of Se7en. This is Netflix‘s new game show, which will be hosted by actor and board game aficionado Neil Patrick Harris.
The new show is being teased as a “massive guessing game” where contestants will face off in pairs to guess the contents of each box while solving rounds of trivia, per Variety. The streamer promises contestants will have the chance to get “life-changing rewards.” So, they might not find Gwyneth Paltrow’s head in a box, but maybe they’ll win a trip to the Bahamas or something.
According to Netflix, there will be a lot more to the new game show than expected. “Winning a prize is just the beginning,” reads the show’s official description. “As the game unfolds, shifting alliances and unexpected twists mean only those with sharp instincts — and a little luck — will hold onto their winnings and claim victory.”
Harris could be the perfect host for the job.
Not only is the Emmy Award-winning actor already a seasoned host with several awards ceremonies under his belt, but Harris is also a huge fan of board games and immersive experiences. The How I Met Your Mother star has released two of his own board games over the years – the theory11 Box ONE Board Game Presented by Neil Patrick Harris and the theory11 Box Two Board Game by Neil Patrick Harris – and has spoken at length about his love for escape rooms and immersive gaming experiences.
He also has some experience hosting game shows; he previously hosted the short-lived NBC game show Genius Junior. What’s in the Box will join Netflix’s growing slate of game shows and competition series, including Squid Game: The Challenge, Is It Cake?, and The Circle.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a massive fan of board games, escape rooms and all things immersive,” he told The Hollywood Reporter when the Box Two Board Game released earlier this year. “I don’t know if I’d go as far as calling myself an expert, but I’d rank my ability level a strong 8.22918 out of 9.9189… I kid. I’m an 8.13893!”
Harris described the Box Two Board Game as a “gaming gateway drug to the world of immersive games.”
Now, Harris will get the chance to lead his own immersive game with the new Netflix series.
What’s in the Box is slated to premiere on Netflix sometime in December.