Though Survivor 48 simply premiered on the 2025 TV schedule, followers are as excited as ever for the upcoming 50th season. Longtime host Jeff Probst revealed in 2024 that the milestone season will carry again fan-favorite gamers, however as of early January, that they had not but landed on a premise. Total, Probst has been open in regards to the stress-inducing issues surrounding the milestone installment, and he’s now shedding some gentle on what the casting course of has been like.
Contemplating there are 48 seasons of Survivor, it’s not possible to forged the entire fan-favorites, villains, underdogs and champions in one season (as evidenced by a brand new card recreation that Survivor put out that didn’t embody some favorites, like Parvati Shallow). To show that time once more, Probst advised TVLine that the casting course of for 50 has been brutal, particularly since solely 20 individuals will probably be competing:
I’m open to concepts! We had about 200 [to start], and we stated, ‘OK, these are all fascinating names,’ and you may make a special case for every of them. Then we obtained it right down to 100. That first minimize was brutal! Then we obtained it right down to 70, and now there’s blood in every single place! So, I’m not gonna lie and inform you we all know who’s going to be on the present proper now as a result of we don’t.
This isn’t the primary time Survivor has had returning gamers just for a season, however since it’s Season 50, the stress is absolutely on.
Whereas it’s seemingly not everybody desires to return, it feels like there are various extra who would love nothing greater than to return again for the milestone season. To that time, Probst understands which you can’t please everybody, however he’s nonetheless excited for the group that may ultimately signify Survivor 50:
It was extraordinarily thrilling and painfully troublesome to do as a result of there are going to be individuals disillusioned in every single place, however there’s going to be lots of people very excited to be the consultant of our fiftieth season.
In fact, the casting course of isn’t all that Probst and the crew are fearful about.
There’s additionally attempting to determine what the 50th season will really include. Occupied with that, widdling down a whole lot of gamers to simply 20 could find yourself being a better hurdle to leap over. Since it’s Season 50, they positively must go large or go dwelling for the challenges, however not like with the casting, Probst admits that he’s getting some assist from devoted followers in terms of designing the sport:
It’s nonetheless, even on this second, a bit of terrifying as a result of we’re used to designing the sport. There’s symmetry, there’s a payoff, we all know what’s going to be within the recreation… However that is going to actually be an experiment, and I feel it’s the subsequent evolution, which is, ‘Let’s give the followers an array of decisions, and let’s see what they select and see what recreation we find yourself with!’
It feels like there’s a lot going into Survivor 50, between the casting, the sport and all the things in between. At this level, it’s exhausting to inform who will probably be competing, and it’s seemingly some followers received’t be proud of who’s included or who isn’t. However Probst is taking nice care in ensuring it is a season followers received’t overlook.
There are nonetheless two full seasons of Survivor to get by means of earlier than Survivor 50 is right here, so not less than followers will probably be a lot occupied till then. It’s seemingly extra particulars will probably be revealed within the coming months, however for now, the grueling course of continues with casting and recreation design. Nevertheless, for now, Survivor 48 airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, and is streaming the following day with a Paramount+ subscription.