Project Runway is returning to its original home for Season 17.
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Bravo launched Project Runway in 2004 and aired it through 2008 before Lifetime grabbed it from Bravo in a high-profile, five-year deal that Bravo's NBC Universal parent company attempted to stop via a lawsuit.
According to the network, Project Runway's return is part of its previously-announced plans to expand original series in primetime to seven nights a week beginning this fall.
"We are beyond excited to reboot Project Runway at the network where it all began. Leaning into the creative process in an entertaining way has always been part of Bravo's DNA, and Project Runway perfectly captures that," said NBCUniversal executive Frances Berwick.
"This franchise will be an important cornerstone to complement Bravo's original premium scripted and unscripted slate, and we expect it to drive the same level of fan-dom and passion as we experienced last time it was on Bravo."
Project Runway is returning to Bravo through an agreement with Lantern Entertainment LLC, whose bid to acquire the assets of Project Runway's The Weinstein Company production company was approved by a Delaware bankruptcy court on May 8.
The deal, which reportedly also allows Bravo to produce Project Runway spinoffs and other unscripted projects, is subject to Lantern closing that acquisition.
Although Lifetime announced in 2016 it had renewed Project Runway for three additional seasons, the network's parent company, A&E Television Networks, terminated its contract for the series in January in the wake of the sexual abuse allegations against The Weinstein Company founder Harvey Weinstein, according to Deadline Hollywood.
"As we anticipate formally completing the acquisition process, the opportunity to return Project Runway to its original home at Bravo and foster a long-term and productive partnership with NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment is an exciting first step for Lantern Entertainment," said Lantern co-presidents Andy Mitchell and Milos Brajovic.
"We share Bravo's enthusiasm to reinvigorate the series and are incredibly grateful for everyone who has had a hand in making Project Runway the flagship franchise that it is today."
During its original run on Bravo, The Weinstein Company had hired the Magical Elves production company-- which still produces Top Chef for Bravo -- to produce Project Runway. However, Magical Elves didn't follow the show to Lifetime, and its Lifetime editions have been produced by Bunim-Murray Productions.
Season 16 of Project Runway premiered in August 2017 on Lifetime. Kentaro Kameyama won the season, with Ayana Ife finishing as the runner-up.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
