Australian Survivor is set to return in 2027 with its world-first season, with TV Blackbox able to reveal the franchise’s next instalment will carry the theme Rivals.
The theme delivers on the promise made during the Australian Survivor: Redemption finale earlier this year, when host David Genat revealed the next season would feature a concept never before seen anywhere in the global Survivor franchise.
The Rivals theme was first reported by our own Rob McKnight during a recent episode of McKnight Tonight, with this website now independently confirming that reporting through trusted sources.
The new season has now entered production in Malaysia, marking the first time the Australian franchise has been based in the Southeast Asian nation, after we first revealed the production would relocate from its long-time home in Samoa.
While the full cast remains under wraps, the Herald Sun has reported former AFL stars Heath Shaw and Adam Cooney are among those joining the new season — reporting this website also understands to be accurate.
The Rivals concept has long been one of the most talked-about unrealised themes among Survivor fans, having reportedly been considered for a U.S. season before plans ultimately shifted to Winners at War.
While yet to be formally confirmed by Network 10, the theme opens the door to contestants entering the game alongside a pre-existing rival, whether forged through sport, previous reality television appearances or personal history.
Paramount Australia has been approached for comment.
The rivals is a weird theme. It sounds like this is blood vs water again but this time with footy players? that was the worst season ever.
They really want to kill it. Rivals would only work with past players competing again. No one cares about real life rivals when we’ve never seen them play before let alone know who they are. Hasbeen footballers, again? Poor David gets the blame a lot but the whole production is just tired, especially the forced themes. I really hoped Malaysia would breathe new life into the show but it seems execs are determined to ruin it. Shame.
Hows this show continue to get renewed. Just end it already.
Does this mean it’s returning contestants again
Cara Grbich it’s all newbies
Chloe Kidgell !
Monica Elizabeth Waits
Heck yeah.
Hiow do i watch it in the u s
Karly Brooks Sam Bufton
🤔 it’s a competition, aren’t they rivals on every season?
Tam Kells “contestants entering the game alongside a pre-existing rival, whether forged through sport, previous reality television appearances or personal history.”
Matt Parker so producers are just after the drama this season then
Tam Kells isn’t that how reality TV works? Fabricated drama?
Don’t keep bringing back past players please
Rivals makes sense! The family one was good because of the added dimension of wanting someone else on the other tribe to win.
The original format and intent of this great social experiment pits strangers against each other to outwit/play/last: any derivative of that format comprises the true intent of the experiment: but hey, maybe I’m a fossil who doesn’t understand the bigger picture around things like (ratings, future, format demand)
Hope its a huge success and long live the format
I’m glad it’s coming back.
Chloe Hughes
Hope everyone gets behind this season. We don’t need another Survivor hiatus. Love our product – more players, more days and hopefully some interesting survivors
Yay cant wait 🤗 #davidgenat
Are we having to wait till 2027?? None this year??? 😭