Last April,Jeff Probstrevealed that all contestants on the50th season ofSurvivorwould be returning players.The last time the show had reoccurring players was during season 40 for"Winners at War,“but this time around,Survivorcould be looking to feature some returning castaways from the “new era.” The last seven seasons have provided fans with a fresh set of fan favorites and all-star caliber players, but one castaway has already thrown his name in the mix to be chosen forSurvivor’s50th season.
Drew Basile,a Master’s student from theUniversity of Oxford, made it to the final six onSurvivorseason 45, proving to be one of the most entertaining players on the show two years ago, before being blindsided byeventual winnerDee Valladareson day 23. In a recent interview withEntertainment Weekly,Basile expressed doubt towards being invited back to play onSurvivor’smilestone season, but has since had a change of heart about coming back.“Yeah, my opinion has definitely changed onSurvivor 50.“Basile said.“I think I would be a great pick. I think CBS would really benefit from picking me.”
Drew Basile Believes he is a ‘great pick’ for Season 50
Basile recently became the firstSurvivorplayer to compete onJeopardy,where he qualified for theTournament of Championsand went on a seven-game winning streak before being eliminated in the semi-finals. The 24-year-old still managed to bring home nearly 140,000 dollars, and now feels confident that he could apply the same smarts to win the million dollar prize onSurvivor.That said, Basile’s overconfidence is what cost him the opportunity to earn the title of sole survivor last time, and it does not seem like he is any less arrogant about a possible return to the show.
This ‘Survivor: Game Changers’ Moment Is the Darkest in the Show’s History
There have been several controversial moments in ‘Survivor’ history, but this one stands out as the darkest among them.
It’s no secret that Basile’s ego grew as he continued to outlast many of his tribe mates onSurvivorseason 45,but the Master’s student has not shied away from flaunting his pride. In the same interview withEntertainment Weekly,he explained that he’s"not afraid to get mean,“and stressed how he uses words as a weapon to be successful. He admitted that there are several good talkers onSurvivor,but noted that saying the correct word onJeopardyhelped him win over 100,000 dollars, and that he could apply the same skills to be crowned champion on the islands of Fiji.
Basile also revealed that he has received other offers from other reality television competitions,but only accepts invitations to programs he believes are at the top of the food chain. Basile also claimed to beone of the smartest individuals to ever compete onSurvivor,but it remains to be seen if his excessive self-assurance will once again be his downfall. Probst andSurvivorexecutives may consider Basile for season 50 due to the entertainment value that his arrogance brings, but his current approach to his own return could also lead to an early elimination, especially playing with otherSurvivoralumni.
Survivorseason 50will likely debut in February 2026, but filming is not set to start until this Spring. Basile’s memorable outing and ability to gain other opportunities after his first taste of reality television definitely makes him a possible option forSurvivor’smilestone season. He’s also a contestant that stands out when compared to other “new era” castaways and could be chosen to represent the most recent generation ofSurvivor.However, it remains to be seen if Basile’s attitude will change if selected to return to the show, or if he will once again enter the game with a chip on his shoulder.“Survivor"is available to stream on CBS in the U.S.
