Everything you need to know about Survivor season 38

It’s been a little over a month since Survivor: David vs. Goliath came to its conclusion on CBS and, not one to keep fans waiting too long, Survivor season 38 is coming faster than you may expect. Hot off the heels of one of the most celebrated seasons of the long-running reality series, Jeff Probst is once again returning to the island with a new group of competitors. This time around, the program will feature a few familiar faces and a brand new format twist to keep fans on their toes. With an ominous title and some intriguing new details, here’s everything you need to know about Survivor season 38.

The official title for Survivor season 38 is Survivor: Edge of Extinction

The official title for Survivor season 38 has been revealed as Survivor: Edge of Extinction, which really conjures up a fantasy/sci-fi feel. While we’re not saying that’ll be something featured in the new episodes, the new season’s moniker reflects the surprising risk that’ll be coming with the new episodes as some contestants from previous seasons will make their return while the show reveals a crazy new twist that’ll be featured in this new run.

Four familiar faces will return to Survivor season 38

There will be four contestants returning to compete in Survivor season 38. Joe Anglim, who appeared on Survivor: Worlds Apart and Survivor: Second Chance, will resurface on Survivor: Edge of Extinction. Joining him will be Aubry Bracco, alumni from both Survivor: Kaoh Rong and Survivor: Game Changers, Kelley Wentworth, who was part of the Survivor: San Juan Del Sur and Survivor: Second Chance casts and David Wright, who was previously seen on Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X.

While this will be the fifth time Survivor will be doing a captains-style season, this will be the first season to feature four returning players. What’ll make this interesting is the fact that these familiar faces will be coming into the competition with a clear advantage above the rest of the players. Not only have they been through this before, all but one of the returning contestants have played a variation of the Survivor game twice. With a total of 18 cast members featured in Survivor season 38, there will be 14 newbies coming to the island for the first time.

Survivor season 38 will have a new format twist

Survivor season 38 may feature a handful of recognizable faces, but Edge of Extinction will be introducing a new twist to the competition. As each new player gets voted off the island, an option will be presented their way to go to Extinction Island, instead, where they will wait for their two different chances to get back in the game — either at the merge or at the end. If waiting isn’t something these contestants want to do, they’ll be able to leave Extinction Island anytime they want. However, they will also be given the option to hang out for the entire duration of the game. They’ll need to test their patience as they won’t be given the chance, at first, to compete in various challenges or go to Tribal Council.

After the merge does happen, the players left on Extinction Island will become the jury which, if no one leaves, could result in a 15-member jury and a final three. For those patient enough to wait it out, this could find every single contestant lasting on Survivor season 38 until the final 39th day. Needless to say, this adds a bunch of new variables to the mix as we don’t know how many people will choose to go to Extinction Island or what’ll even happen there.