Though The Challenge season 38 has reportedly barely begun filming, there are many details that have leaked about the cast and production that are already building excitement among fans. Popular MTV competition show The Challenge has evolved over the years, and recent seasons are nearly unrecognizable from the early days of the series. Now, the show features jaw-dropping dailies, brutal elimination challenges, and competitors from across the globe—and season 38 is shaping up to be no different.
The theme of The Challenge season 37 was Spies, Lies & Allies, and though fans were growing tired of the spy-themed seasons, there was still a lot to enjoy about it. There were many returning fan favorite cast members like Chris “CT” Tamburello, Tori Deal, Kyle Christie, and more, who have been shedding their blood, sweat, and tears in the competition for years. Spies, Lies & Allies also featured several new Challenge stars, including Emy Alupei and Emanuel Neagu.
As The Challenge heads into its 38th season, many fans are hoping for something new. The Challenge: All Stars has been delighting viewers on Paramount+, and many want to see the OG series step its game up and deliver an entertaining and engaging new season. Fans have complained about the lack of true champions and stale premises in the past few seasons, and it seems producers have listened and are prepared to deliver a dynamite season.
The Challenge Season 38 Veterans
Like Spies, Lies & Allies, season 38 will feature a mixture of seasoned veterans and rookie hopefuls. Seemingly all of the season 38 cast has been leaked, though several competitors are in quarantine as alternates and may not ever make it on the show. But the list of returning vets is staggering and contains many Challenge champions. The season 38 veterans, will include Johnny Bananas, Laurel Stucky, Turbai “Turbo” Camkiran, Kailah Casillas, Devin Walker, Tori Deal, Nelson Thomas, Nany Gonzalez, Fessy Shafaat, Aneesa Ferreira, Josh Martinez, Kaycee Clark, Nam Vo, Amber Borzotra, Emmy Alupei, Emmanuel Neagu, Jay Starret, Michele Fitzgerald, and Corey Lay. Current All Stars competitor Wes Bergmann was also slated to be in the season 38 cast but has reportedly exited the show for unknown reasons.
The Challenge Season 38 Rookies
Also like Spies, Lies & Allies, there will be many international rookies from reality TV shows from across the world—though there will be several from well-known American series as well. The incoming crop of Challenge rookies includes Analyse Talavera (Big Brother 21), Tommy Bracco (Big Brother 21), Johnny Middlebrooks (Love Island 2), Olivia Kaiser (Love Island 3), Nurys Matteo (EOTB 2, AYTO 6), Horacio Gutierrez (Exalton Telemundo), Ravyn Rochelle (IG influencer), Moriah Jadea (IG Influencer), Emmy Russ (Beauty and the Geek Germany), Colleen Schneider (The Mole Germany), and Kim Tranka (Prince Charming Germany).
The Challenge Season 38 Theme
Each season of The Challenge has a unique theme that influences the gameplay, and for season 38, producers are switching things up a bit. Not unlike Battle of the Bloodlines, season 38 is called Ride or Dies and will feature friends, family, and significant others of returning Challenge vets. The new competitors who are connected to the veteran players will include Chauncey Palmer (Amber B’s boyfriend), Jakk Maddox (Ex on the Peak and Laurel’s friend), Sam Bird (Love Island UK and Kailah’s husband), James Simon (Aneesa’s friend), Kenny Clark (Kaycee’s brother), and Tamara Alfaro (Turbo’s girlfriend).
The Challenge Season 38 Filming Details
Fans will be thrilled (though not surprised) to know that long-time host TJ Lavin is returning for season 38, which is currently filming in Argentina. Though production isn’t facing the same level of difficulty as it did when filming during the peak of the pandemic, COVID-19 is still reportedly causing problems on-set. The season 38 “departure day” was set for May 22, but soon after news leaked that the entire cast of The Challenge went back into quarantine on May 26 due to a COVID-19 outbreak. However, blogger GamerVev informed fans on Twitter that filming is set to resume on May 31.