Watch: 'Survivor' Season 49 Cast Revealed: Meet the 18 New CastawaysOn Survivor, players simply can't outwit, outplay and outlast the rules of the game. Just 12 hours before the CBS reality competition's upcoming 49th season began filming, the cast's alternates Jason Treul and Michelle "MC" Chukwujekwu were added to the cast as replacements for two existing castaways were pulled from the game at the last-minute. "We always try to remind the audience that the game is also alive for us at all times," host Jeff Probst told Parade of the unprecedented situation in an interview published Aug. 21. "Every single day we're shooting Survivor, the game is alive. You don't know what's going to happen. That same uncertainty extends to casting, and we've never had it tested in this way." Jeff, who also serves as an executive producer for Survivor, told the outlet that the incident involving two unnamed members of the cast occurred during the pre-production period when contestants coexist before the game begins-but are forbidden from talking to one another. And, as he explained, the show's decision to replace two contestants with both alternates for the first time ever so close to filming starting should send a strong message.readWhy Survivor's Jeff Probst Let Mike White Back for Season 50"The result is a reminder that we take this game very seriously," the 63-year-old explained. "We want you to have a blast when you play. But we do have rules, and they have to be respected, and if they're not, we will take action. And we did, and I'm sure it will send a seismic warning to future players, and I'm okay with that, because we don't ask for a lot." "We let you play your own game on your own terms," he continued. "We never tell you what to say. We never do anything. We don't even nudge players. It is your world. All we ask is you've got to respect our rules. We only have a few. But if you don't, then basically what you're telling us is, 'I'm not a team player,' and that's just never going to work for us."CBS/Paramount NetworksJeff went on to give even more insight into the reality of being a Survivor alternate, which every season of the show has two of-one man, one woman-just in case. "Our casting process is very different in the new era," he shared, referring to the newer seasons of the series. "If you get down to the finals, that means there is a very good chance you're going to end up on the show. And that means, if we ask you to be an alternate, you're even closer than you think. We just don't have a spot for you."Jeff used one of season 49's alternates as an example to illustrate his point. "Like in the case of MC, she came into casting late," he said. "We met her at the very end, and we loved her. But we already had a group together, and we told her the truth. We said, 'We love you. We just don't have a spot. But we have this thing called an alternate and here's how it works.'" "I think what we're showing players is we're good with our work," Jeff went on. "It doesn't mean you're guaranteed to be on the show. That's important, and we tell them that. But if you look at the history, it means your chances of being on the show are very, very high. And if you're willing to come be an alternate, you could learn a lot." Keep reading for more shocking TV show exits...

BravoJax Taylor, The ValleyJax Taylor announced he will not be returning to The Valley for season three amid growing concern from fans about his behavior during the show's second season. "Right now, my focus needs to be on my sobriety, my mental health, and coparenting," the Bravo star-who is embroiled in a nasty divorce from estranged wife Brittany Cartwright-shared in July 2025. "Taking this time is necessary for me to become the best version of myself-especially for our son, Cruz."Disney/Bahareh RitterSofia Mattsson, General HospitalSofia Mattsson exited the long-running soap opera in summer 2025 after seven years playing Sasha Gilmore. Her character left Port Charles for Paris.

Virginia Sherwood/NBCMehcad Brooks, Law & OrderMehcad Brooks shocked fans in 2025 when it was revealed he was leaving the NBC crime drama ahead of season 25. Brooks, who joined the show in 2022, portrayed Detective Jalen Shaw for three seasons.HBO Max/Warrick PageTracy Ifeachor, The PittThe Pitt star Tracy Ifeachor walked away from the hit HBO Max series after the medical drama's breakout first season. "It was an absolute privilege to play Dr. Heather Collins in such a groundbreaking season and piece," the actress posted on Instagram July 10. "Thank you to everyone who has watched & supported Season 1 & shared their stories with me."Liane Hentscher/HBOPedro Pascal, The Last of UsWhile fans maybe should have been aware that the days were numbered for Pedro Pascal's Joel Miller, considering his April 2025 death was quite similar to how it unfolded in The Last of Us Part II, the 2020 video game season two of The Last of Us is based on, the moment his character was brutally impaled still stun