Survivor Australia is, as the name implies, the Australian version of the hit reality television competition show. Hosted by Jonathan LaPaglia, the format is essentially the same as the United States version, with minor changes. For one, the cast is typically 24 castaways, and it lasts longer than the US version. There is also no final four firemaking challenge, and for a while, jurors at the final tribal would ask individual questions, although they recently adopted the open forum format of US Survivor. Besides more physical challenges and slightly fewer advantages, the rest of the shows are pretty much the same, which makes it easy for fans to watch both versions.
New Survivor Australia Season Switches Things Up
Survivor Australia is taking a different approach to its 13th season. Not only is the cast the smallest in the version’s history, at 14, but they are also introducing a bold new theme that fans have been begging for. This year, instead of focusing on only players from Australia, or sprinkling in a couple US players, the theme is Australia versus The World; 8 all-stars from Australia will be taking on 8 all-stars from Survivor versions across the world, including US, New Zeland, South Africa, Canada, and even Finland. Only one player can win, so who will take home gold to show the supremacy of their version of the famous reality series?
There are other changes as well. The format of Survivor Australia will last for just 16 days, with the goal of hyperfocusing strategy, moves, and excitement into creative, new, and riveting moments. Storyline, narrative, and gameplay will be fresh and ideally constantly moving for fans. They are playing for $250,000, and will start in two tribes of seven, presumably split by the Australia and The World theme. Filming from Samoa, there is no set release date, but it is expected to air in Australia around July or August.
Cast of Survivor Australia: Australia vs. The World
This is really what everyone wants to know, right? Who is playing this iconic and much-requested season? The cast is truly star-studded, with some elite players and massive personalities set to take the beaches of Samoa with only one goal in mind: to win. Truthfully, having only 14 players is a bit disappointing; they could have easily managed 24 players, with even more diversity. Think 6 US players, 6 South African Players, and 6 Australian players, as the three biggest English-speaking versions around the world, and then a tribe of 6 from every other version (NZ, Canada, Finland, etc.).
While that would have been fun, the 14 players they ultimately chose will not disappoint. Check out the group below. Are there any players you wish had made it? Any you would replace?
Team Australia Tribe:
- Janine Allis – Champions v Contenders (2019)
- Kirby Bentley – Titans v Rebels
- Shonee Bowtell – Champions v Contenders (2018), Australian Survivor All Stars, Heroes v Villains
- David Genat – Champions v Contenders (2019), Australian Survivor: All Stars (Winner)
- George Mladenov – Brains v Brawn (Runner-Up), Heroes v Villains
- Sarah Tilleke – Australian Survivor (2017)
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Luke Toki – Australian Survivor (2017), Champions v Contenders (2019)
Team World Tribe:
- Kass Bastarache– Survivor Québec 2024 (Runner-Up)
- Rob Bentele– Survivor South Africa: Island of Secrets (Winner)
- Cirie Fields– Survivor: Panama, Survivor: Micronesia, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, Survivor: Game Changers
- Lisa Holmes– Survivor New Zealand: Thailand (Winner)
- Tommi Manninen – Selviytyjät Suomi Season 7 (Runner-Up)
- Parvati Shallow– Survivor: Cook Islands, Survivor: Micronesia (Winner), Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (Runner-Up), Survivor: Winners at War
- Tony Vlachos – Survivor: Cagayan (Winner), Survivor: Game Changers, Survivor: Winners at War (Winner)
