Jeff Probst is lastly opening up concerning the casting course of for Survivor 50: Within the Arms of the Followers.
For the landmark season, the present introduced again 24 returning castaways, together with three former winners, eleven gamers who’ve made it to the Closing Tribal Council, and a number of other fan-favorites who’ve by no means gained.
In an interview with Folks revealed on Wednesday, Jan. 28, the longtime host and government producer revealed casting began with an inventory of 200 previous contestants earlier than narrowing it all the way down to simply 24.
“We did it one participant at a time,” Probst defined. “I used to be simply trying via my season 50 pocket book on the first stack of gamers, and it is loopy how many individuals we began with — and we had a case for all of them.”
The crew was then tasked with slicing the preliminary solid in half.
“And also you simply begin placing folks within the different pile going, ‘Oh my God, that is heartbreaking.’ As a result of I care,” he stated.
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Regardless of having to make troublesome choices, Probst says he feels “actually good” concerning the ultimate solid and its illustration of the present’s 25 years on tv.
Initially, the solid announcement was met with some disappointment when followers found that half of the gamers are from the “New Period” — or the 9 most up-to-date seasons of the sequence. Nevertheless, Probst defined that younger viewers “do not know” the older gamers almost in addition to they do newer solid members.
“In order that’s our job too, is to at all times huge image it,” he added. “I’m actually pleased with this group, but when there was something I might change, it might be simply softening the blow for the individuals who didn’t get on.”
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In a separate interview with The Hollywood Reporter additionally revealed on Jan. 28, Probst revealed a few of the iconic solid members who almost obtained on the season.
“Any individual who obtained away who we actually wished was Amanda [Kimmel]. It was a scheduling factor. At first she was all in. Then after we informed her the dates, she began not being as sure as a result of she has a household now,” Probst stated. “Then a number of individuals who I gained’t title stated, ‘We don’t wish to do it anymore.’ So, we really feel good. The one a part of it that was unsettling for me is that we couldn’t say sure to all people we wished to and to all people who wished to do it. We simply couldn’t.”
He additionally shared that whereas the present initially thought-about casting Survivor legends like Boston Rob Mariano and Parvati Shallow, they in the end determined in opposition to together with any winners who competed on Winners at Battle.
“By way of time being up, Rob [Mariano] and Parvati [Shallow] principally tell us, ‘We’re completed. We performed in Winners at Battle, we’ve had an important profession,'” Probst stated. “I talked to Rob and he was very cool in that he stated, ‘In case you want me, I shall be there for no matter you want. In case you don’t want me, I’d fairly not.’ And I stated, ‘We don’t want you. I actually respect it.'”
“Rob has earned the best to say no. He’s bled for this present for a very long time. We constructed this present on his again, and on Parvati’s again and [Tony Vlachos’] again and [Sandra Diaz-Twine’s] again,” he added. “So as soon as we had that, we stated, this makes it straightforward. No winners from Survivor 40, no gamers from 40. That removed 20 nice gamers, nevertheless it opened the door for brand new gamers and that was one of many issues Rob stated. He goes, ‘Give anyone else a shot. I performed lots.'”
For the anniversary season, followers have been capable of vote on key parts of the sport, together with on whether or not there shall be idols, whether or not fireplace making will stay, and whether or not the reside finale and reunion present will return in Los Angeles. As at all times, the contestants will compete for a $1 million money prize.
In a industrial break through the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 11, Probst revealed the primary results of the fan vote, confirming the reside reunion present shall be making a comeback for the upcoming season and can movie in Los Angeles in Could.
Survivor 50: Within the Arms of the Followers premieres Wednesday, Feb. 25 with a particular three-hour episode at 8/7c on CBS.
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