The landmark 50th season of Survivor will have all the fix-ins. The show’s host and showrunner Jeff Probst officially announced during a FYC event for the show on April 27, that season 50 will feature all returning players.
“Survivor 50 is coming down the corner. The truth is, we really do focus on 47 and 48, that’s what we’re heading out to shoot next. Then we have to shoot 49. But we know 50 is coming, so I am curious, is there a feeling? Should 50 be another season with new players and don’t make it a big deal? You’re saying no?†he asked, after the audience became vocal. “Or should it be returning players?†That question garnered a much more favorable response, leading to Probst’s announcement. “In the spirit of, sometimes letting the game be in the hands of the fans, I feel like — and there a couple of people from CBS right now going ‘Oh, my God, what is happening?’ — I feel like we should just commit and make this the moment where we decide that Survivor 50 will be returning players.â€
The welcome announcement came in the midst of the show airing its 46th season, which is the latest in a new era that hasn’t featured any returning castaways (with the exception of Bruce Perreault, who got a mulligan after being medically evacuated minutes into his first season). Returning players were first introduced with season eight’s All-Stars, and were last featured for 40’s all-winners season. We’ve still got a few seasons of fresh faces ahead of us before we hit 50, which should give CBS plenty of time to dust off those buffs, make some calls, and coordinate with The Traitors’s casting department.