February 14, 2019

NBC announced today that American Ninja Warrior will be back for an eighth season on the network - the show's 11th overall. The veteran athletic competition has become a summer staple for the peacock network, garnering consistently-solid ratings that put it near the top of the pack.

Based on the Japanese series Sasuke, which is now in its 31st season, American Ninja Warrior began its stateside run in 2009 on the now-defunct cable channel G4 before moving to NBC in 2012. The show closely mirrors the original Japanese format, and features athletes from all walks of life taking on a series of extreme obstacle courses in city finals around the country. Those advancing move on to the national finals round in Las Vegas, which features a four-stage course that closely resembles Japan's well-known Mount Midoriyama course.

The series is always trying to keep things fresh, with last season adding new twists that included lowering the age limit to 19 and an 18-foot mega-warped wall that gave competitors a chance to instantly win $10,000. This season promises to introduce some significant changes to the course and the game play.

Production on Season 8 of American Ninja Warrior is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with a  likely premiere in late spring or early summer.