Simon Cowell Talks NBC For New American Version Of ‘The X Factor’

The X factor could return to American television as creator and judge Simon Cowell appears to be in talks to revive the singing competition series on NBC.

Cowell said the network “offered us to do the show” during an interview. The sunadding: “That means we’re going to do the show here.”

Sources tell Deadline the deal is in the works. It will likely fall under Cowell’s extended contract with NBCUniversal, which he signed last year.

It is unclear how The X factor would sit alongside NBC’s existing flagship singing competition The voicewhich currently airs two episodes per season as well as Cowell’s variety hit America’s Got Talenta summer staple that also spawned a winter All the stars turnoff.

When Fox carried both american idol and The X factorthey each aired one episode per season – The X factor in the fall and american idol in the spring. It’s possible that NBC will do something similar with it The voice and The X factor as a means of extending the former’s lifespan.

Cowell made The X factor in Great Britain in 2004 and the league series lasted 15 seasons. It ended in December 2018 and since then there have been two spin-off series, The X Factor: Celebrity and The X factor: the band. Throughout the course, the British version of The X factor launched the careers of several artists including One Direction, Little Mix and Leona Lewis.

In September 2011, the US version of The X factor debuts on Fox, the original home of american idol also. Cowell began the series as a judge alongside Paula Abdul, Cheryl Cole and LA Reid. Nicole Scherzinger, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio were also judges on the series.

Cowell returned to the UK version in 2014, and Fox subsequently canceled the US episode after three seasons. Although the TV appearance was short-lived, Season 2 of the series allowed Cowell to discover the pop group Fifth Harmony.