Since it was announced thatSurvivor 50would feature a cast of only returning players, fans have been vocal about which castaways they feel deserve another shot at the million-dollar prize. Although contestants likeGenevieve MushalukandOzzy Lusthare rumored to appear,many have expressed their disappointment with fan favorites likeCarolyn WigerandBenjamin “Coach” Wadebeing cut from the 50th edition of the show. Additionally, with most seasons that feature returning players,fans are expectingSurvivorlegends to travel to Figi next year, but with several “New Era” players likely being given a second chance, the lineup for season 50 may have fewer returning all-stars than initially expected. Nevertheless, fans will finally learn who will be competing onSurvivor 50, with the announcement set to be made onCBS Morningsthis Wednesday.
Official Cast for ‘Survivor 50’ Dropping Wednesday
Ahead ofthe season 48 finale,Survivorshared three posts of specific contestants from the final six onInstagram;Shauhin Davari, Kamilla KarthigesuandEva Erickson.At the end of each slideshow, there was a hint aboutSurvivor 50, with the logo for the season being featured at the end of Davari’s post, the word “Wednesday” being shown on Karthigesu’s page, and the date May 28 appearing on Erickson’s slide deck. Initially,fans believedthe cast reveal would transpire during the season 48 finale,but insteadSurvivoropted to save the major announcement for the following week.Survivoralso took to Instagram to share the amount of fan requests they’ve receivedabout returning players, showcasing multiple comments of social media users asking for fan favorites likeKelly Wentworth,Malcom FrebergandRupert Bonehamto appear on season 50. DespiteSurvivorteasing their audience with the endless possibilities of returnees, fans should alter their own expectations for the cast of the 50th season ahead of Wednesday’s reveal.
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Fans Should Expect Deserving Contestants - Not Legends
Although it’s always exciting to watch players likeBoston Rob MarianoorCirie Fieldsreturn toSurvivor,season 50 will likely target the newer generation of fans, who have become more familiar with recent contestants. Throughout the first eight seasons of the “New Era,”Bruce Perreaultwas the only player who earned a second chanceafter his first stint onSurvivorwas cut short due to a severe head injury. Since the start of the New Era in Season 41, Survivor has focused primarily on all-new casts.”
Although this strategy has ledSurvivor to lose some viewers over time,it also allowed the program to build new stars, fan favorites and attract younger viewers who are beginning to fall in love with the latest generation of the show. Unfortunately, seasons likeSurvivor 20: Heroes vs. Villains,orSurvivor 40: Winners at Warhave led fans to believe that every year with returning players must result in an all-star cast. There will undoubtedly be iconic players to compete onSurvivor 50,but the 18 to 20 contestants that appear will be a mixed bag of fan favorites and recent castaways who deserve a second chance, rather than a hall of fame ensemble.
Despite fans craving to see their favorite legends reappear,including several players from the “New Era"and featuring specific contestants from the older generation of the game could bebetter forSurvivorin the long run.Season 50 will naturally improve viewership due to the entire cast being returning players, giving Survivor the opportunity to impress the fans who stopped watching when the “New Era” began. If the returning fans are intrigued by the castaways from more recent seasons, they could be inclined to continue to watch the show followingSurvivor 50.Therefore, before the official cast is released on Wednesday, fans should expect to see some of their favorite players return, but also understand thatSurvivoris trying to appease both the older and newer audience of their show, and create some modern legends in the process.
Survivorairs Wednesdays at 8:00pm on CBS. All episodes are available to stream on Paramount+.
