Survivor 50 has revealed its largest returning cast ever with legends from every era, two winners, and a surprise celebrity competitor.
CBS is pulling out all the stops for its milestone 50th season of Survivor, and that includes assembling the biggest cast of returning players in the show’s history. While Survivor 50 won’t hit screens until 2026, host and showrunner Jeff Probst took to CBS Mornings to unveil the landmark season’s cast — well before filming has even begun.
This super-sized season will feature 24 returning players — the most ever — and stretches all the way back to Survivor’s original season. From Borneo’s Jenna Lewis-Dougherty to two yet-to-be-named castaways from the recently filmed Survivor 49, the player pool spans every era of the franchise… except for one.
Interestingly, no contestants from Survivor seasons 19 through 31 will be competing. Instead, this all-star roster draws from the early days and recent seasons, with 11 of the 24 players coming from the past five seasons. Two recent winners are also in the mix: Dee Valladares (Survivor 45) and Kyle Fraser (Survivor 48).
Also returning are two iconic legends now playing for a record-tying fifth time: Cirie Fields and Ozzy Lusth, joining Survivor royalty like Boston Rob Mariano in the elite five-time club.
In a twist sure to grab the attention of non-fans, Mike White, the Hollywood writer-director best known for creating The White Lotus, is coming back to compete. He’ll be joined by David vs. Goliath castmates Angelina Keeley and Christian Hubicki, one of whom he cast in the second season of his hit HBO series.
Fans of the show’s golden years will recognize several other notable names, including Colby Donaldson, Stephenie LaGrossa, and Benjamin “Coach” Wade, all of whom made major waves in the earlier years of the game.
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The full list includes:
Jenna Lewis-Dougherty (Borneo, All-Stars)
Colby Donaldson (The Australian Outback, All-Stars, Heroes vs. Villains)
Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick (Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains)
Cirie Fields (Panama, Micronesia, Heroes vs. Villains, Game Changers)
Ozzy Lusth (Cook Islands, Micronesia, South Pacific, Game Changers)
Benjamin “Coach” Wade (Tocantins, Heroes vs. Villains, South Pacific)
Aubry Bracco (Kaoh Rong, Game Changers, Edge of Extinction)
Chrissy Hofbeck (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers)
Christian Hubicki (David vs. Goliath)
Angelina Keeley (David vs. Goliath)
Mike White (David vs. Goliath)
Rick Devens (Edge of Extinction)
Jonathan Young (Survivor 42)
Emily Flippen (Survivor 45)
Dee Valladares (Survivor 45 – winner)
Quintavius “Q” Burdette (Survivor 46)
Charlie Davis (Survivor 46)
Tiffany Ervin (Survivor 46)
Genevieve Mushaluk (Survivor 47)
Kyle Fraser (Survivor 48 – winner)
Joe Hunter (Survivor 48)
Kamilla Karthigesu (Survivor 48)
Two mystery players from Survivor 49, identities still under wraps
This marks the first time since 2015’s Survivor: Cambodia – Second Chance that CBS has revealed a cast before filming. Although this time fans weren’t voting players in, they were allowed to vote on some of the game’s mechanics this spring — and those results will soon be impacting gameplay when filming begins.
With so many big personalities, returning legends, recent standouts, and a dose of celebrity, Survivor 50 is shaping up to be a celebration of everything the show has been — and a taste of what it still could be. Let the countdown begin.
