CBS has officially announced the 18 new castaways competing for the $1 million prize on Survivor season 42. The castaways will embark on a 26-day journey to earn the title of Sole Survivor, a shortened format of the show introduced last season. Survivor 42 is set to include similar game-altering twists and advantages that received mixed reactions from the fanbase during Survivor 41.
Due to Covid-19 protocols, both Survivor 41 and Survivor 42 were filmed back-to-back to ensure that fans will have a season to enjoy come the spring of 2022. With the added 14-day quarantine period, the newest seasons of Survivor were shortened to 26 days, a change from the show's original 39-day format. Jeff Probst, host and executive producer of Survivor, promised viewers and castaways that a shorter season would not equate to an easier one. This will mark a new era of the show with a faster pace; more twists, advantages and danger; and less food and supplies. But the new twists seen on Survivor 41 upset many longtime viewers of the show who enjoy the game in its purest form.
For Survivor, 18 new castaways have been revealed by CBS, ranging from students, a pageant coach, a veterinarian and stay-at-home parents. According to Us Weekly, this season's cast will feature Jonathan Young (29-year-old beach service company owner), Marya Sherron (47-year-old stay-at-home mom), Romeo Escobar (37-year-old pageant coach), Chanelle Howell (29-year-old executive recruiter), Daniel Strunk (30-year-old law clerk), Drea Wheeler (35-year-old fitness instructor), Hai Giang (29-year-old data scientist), Jackson Fox (48-year-old healthcare worker), Jenny Kim (43-year-old creative director), Lindsay Dolashewich (31-year-old dietitian), Lydia Meredith (22-year-old waitress), Maryanne Oketch (24-year-old seminary student), Mike Turner (58- year -old retired firefighter), Omar Zaheer (31-year-old veterinarian), Rocksroy Bailey (44-year old stay-at-home dad), Swati Goel (19-year-old ivy league student), Tori Meehan (25 -year- old therapist) and Zach Wurtenberger (22-year-old student). Similar to last season of Survivor, the cast will be split into three tribes of six to start the game.
For each castaway, CBS has released in-depth bios with information on their personalities, favorite players and pet peeves. No different from any other modern season of Survivor, this cast will be attempting to replicate the games of Survivor legends Parvati, Ozzy, Cirie, Tony and more. Survivor season 42's winner will follow behind Erika Casupanan, the most recent winner of this new era of Survivor.
Because of the nature of filming Survivor 41 and Survivor 42 consecutively, CBS was unable to gauge fan reactions to all the new changes. Most notably, the hourglass twist of last season had fans questioning this new era of Survivor dominated by twists rather than pure strategy. But even if the twists and advantages stay the same, a new cast means the outcome of the latest season of Survivor is sure to be unpredictable.
Survivor premieres Wednesday, March 9 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.