8 Players That Should Return For Survivor Season 50

Jeff Probst has confirmed that Survivor season 50 will feature a cast of all-returning players. As one of the earliest reality shows, Survivor has used an all-star format in the past. The show is notorious for bringing back past stars to compete alongside new castaways. Survivor: Winners at War was the last season to feature a cast of past players. It seems the executives at CBS are listening to dedicated fans and decided to create another season of past players for Survivor season 50. Jeff confirmed the decision at an Emmys FYC event in April 2024.

There have been fan-favorite players who’ve returned to play Survivor for a second, third, and even fourth time. The show has crafted interesting formats to bring back castaways, including seasons like Heroes vs. Villains and Game Changers. It’s unclear what spin Survivor season 50 will have, but there will likely be a new twist to the Survivor season. It will likely film in 2025, as Survivor season 47 was set to film in the spring of 2024. As one of the best reality shows right now, there’s a large pool of personalities who could return for Survivor season 50.

8

David Wright

Millennials vs. Gen X & Edge Of Extinction

David Wright was one of the most entertaining Gen X players on Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X. The season started as a battle between generations. David was ostracized almost immediately by his Gen X tribe members but regained his power after pulling off two blindsides before the merge. He ended up making it to the final four before he was blindsided by his ally, Ken McNickle, who knew he would be a threat to win the game in the top three. He’s returned once to play in Edge of Extinction, one of the weirdest seasons of the show yet.

7

Kellee Kim

Island of the Idols

Kellee Kim is a player who deserves a second chance. She was deemed an early threat on Survivor: Island of the Idols and was voted out first after the merge with two idols in her pocket. Kellee had a rough time on the show after speaking out against Dan Spilo. He was rather touchy with the cast, making Kellee personally feel uncomfortable. She voiced this concern to him on the second day of the game, and production stepped in and gave Dan a warning when he continued to touch other players.

The situation was mishandled by the Survivor players and production team. After Kellee spoke out about her experience with Dan, she was quickly voted out by her fellow cast members. Eventually, he was taken out of the game because of an incident that happened off-camera and not with an Island of the Idols player. Kellee deserves to play Survivor again because she was a great player. Additionally, her feelings were cast aside regarding a matter more serious than the game.

6

Aubry Bracco

Kaôh Rōng — Brains vs. Brawns vs. Beauty, Game Changers, & Edge of Extinction

Aubry Bracco would be a fun player to see return for Survivor season 50. She first competed in Survivor: Kaôh Rōng — Brains vs. Brawns vs. Beauty, and finished as the runner-up. Aubry losing the season is still one of the most controversial results in recent Survivor seasons, as she arguably dominated the game. She convinced Tai Trang to keep his immunity idol to blindside former NBA player Scott Pollard. Aubry has returned twice, for Game Changers and Edge of Extinction, though she couldn’t make it to the final three for either of those seasons.

Aside from her knowledge, Aubry had a great storyline for the Survivor audience to watch. She had a transformative journey and started the game as an anxious player. It was unclear if she could endure Survivor’s harsh format. Aubry rose against all odds and played a great game on Kaôh Rōng, but this ended up painting a huge target on her back in her future seasons. With enough time in between her and her last appearance on Edge of Extinction, Aubry’s threat level could have diminished. It may be her time to win Survivor in season 50.

5

Joe Anglim

Worlds Apart, Cambodia & Edge of Extinction

Joe Anglim is one Survivor player who will likely never win because of his threat level. He’s competed in three seasons of the show, including Worlds Apart, Cambodia, and Edge of Extinction. He was regarded as a physical threat in each season that he competed in, and his fellow players took him out when he lost immunity challenges. During his time in Cambodia, he was voted off after he lost immunity after passing out. He’s a fan-favorite player for a reason, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he was invited back for his fourth go-around in Survivor season 50.​​​​​​​

4

Spencer Bledsoe

Cagayan & Cambodia

Spencer Bledsoe had two impressive runs on Survivor, having never placed below fourth. During his first season, Cagayan, he struggled to dominate the game and found luck as an underdog. However, during his second season in Cambodia, Spencer was a confident player. He had a close relationship with Cambodia winner Jeremy Collins and failed to win the jury over after being labeled too arrogant. If Spencer could combine assets from both of his previous games, he could excel in Survivor season 50.​​​​​​​

3

Domenick Abbate

Ghost Island

Domenick Abbate is another Survivor legend who did not win. His close relationship with Survivor: Ghost Island winner Wendell Holland shielded his target level throughout the game. Domenick and Wendell worked together throughout the game’s entirety, which came back to bite him in the end. At the final tribal council, they received an equal number of votes to win the game, forcing second runner-up Laurel Johnson to cast her vote for the winner. She chose Wendell, and Domenick has yet to return for another season of Survivor.

As a runner-up and one-time player, Domenick would make the perfect addition to Survivor season 50. He’s proved he has what it takes to make it to the end of the game. Because of how close Ghost Island turned out, it’s shocking he never returned to the show. He hasn’t quit competitive reality TV, though, as he competed on MTV’s The Challenge after his stint on Survivor. His history with the game and the demand from fans to see him back almost guarantees Domenick a spot on Survivor season 50.

2

Natalie Bolton

Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites

Natalie Bolton is one of the few members of the “Black Widow Brigade” from Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites who have not returned to compete in another season of Survivor. Natalie was one of the members of one of the most iconic Survivor alliances, which consisted of herself, Parvati Shallow, Cirie Fields, Amanda Kimmel, and Alexis Jones. They dominated the game and were able to eliminate some of the season’s top players, including Jason Siska, Ozzy Lusth, and Erik Reichenbach. The latter elimination, that of Erik, was one of the best strategic moves in Survivor history.

Once her alliance convinced Erik to give up his immunity necklace, Natalie was given immunity, and he was famously blindsided. She went on to place fourth in the season and was the last fan left standing for the entire game. Natalie is embedded in Survivor history but hasn’t returned to play the game. A lot of new school players will likely be invited to play in Survivor season 50. However, Natalie deserves a second chance to prove why she was such a big part of one of the best moves and alliances in Survivor history.

1

Cirie Fields

Panama, Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites, Heroes vs. Villains, & Game Changers

Cirie Fields is a shoo-in for Survivor season 50. She’s competed in four seasons of the show, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have a fifth shot at playing again. Cirie is often regarded as the best player to have never won a season of Survivor for her iconic gameplay. Arguably, she’s best known for helping convince Erik to give up his immunity necklace during Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites with only five players left. Cirie came up with the plan alongside the “Black Widow Brigade.”

Cirie had a major influence over Erik when he decided to give Natalie the immunity necklace. The moment went down as one of the best moves in Survivor history. It would be criminal if Cirie did not return for Survivor season 50 if they choose to follow through with a cast of previous players. She would bring a lot of press to the season, given she just competed in Big Brother season 25 and was a beloved player in that game. It would be entertaining to see Cirie navigate being deemed such a massive threat again.

There are several players that CBS could choose to bring back for Survivor season 50. A lot of new school players will likely be asked back. However, there are still several classic players from earlier seasons that could also return for the show’s landmark fiftieth season.