More "Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance" spoilers have made their way out onto the Internet, and now we've heard from the all-mighty host Jeff Probst himself about what's in store for the 31st season of the hit show.
A few weeks ago, we found out the tribe divisions and what the climate conditions of Cambodia were like, but now we're seeing a little more of the upcoming season, including the first official cast photos and how they prepared to return for their second chance at being the ultimate survivor.
Yesterday was the "Survivor" pre-season press day and a ton of new twists were revealed, many of which have to do with the hidden immunity idols, according to Entertainment Weekly. This season, every immunity idol will look different, which is bound to lead to a lot more confusion as which are real or not.
"The first thing we're doing with the idol is we're making idols look different so every idol will be unique," Probst said. "One idol will look really fancy and the next idol will look like a 5-year-old made it. So when you get an idol, you're going to have to convince somebody it's real because they're going to think it isn't. But that also opens a door to make a fake idol...and they won't know which is up and which is down. You can play all angles on this."
Probst explained the variety of styles of the idols a little more to Gordon Holmes, who was brave enough to go to Cambodia for a behind-the-scenes look at the new location, and talk to Probst while he was at it.
"The levels of game play with the idols should be really complicated," Probst told Holmes, according to Xfinity. "Because nobody is anticipating that an idol would not look like an idol."
As if the new looks wasn't enough of a twist, castaways won't be finding these idols in their typical spots hidden around the campground. Instead, they will be hidden in the middle of challenges for the first time ever.
"To get an idol you're going to have to do something that you, Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly, have been pitching for years-along with us-which is hiding the idol in the middle of a challenge, " Probst continued to say at the press day. "So here's how it will work: Day 1, they start building their shelter, you know people are going to start looking for an idol. They're going to find it in a tree or under a trunk, whatever. But it will be a clue and the clue will say, 'Good news, the idol is within reach. You just have to be daring enough to grab it.' And we're going to have a drawing [of the challenge]. You will know exactly where it is. There is no search. The only question is, can you do it in front of your tribe in the middle of a challenge and get away with it? I love that."
As we previously reported, the tribe was divided into two: Bayon and Ta Keo, but as always, they have plans to shake things up a bit a little further into the show. "We're going to make it tougher to keep alliances together," Probst told Holmes. "It doesn't mean they won't, but we're going to try to keep the game a little uneven."
With the cast being made up of all returning castaways, they know a little bit about alliances, probably more than they'd like to, so it was easier to come prepared this time around. Multiple sources have said that this season will be the franchise's strongest, and after 31 amaizng seasons, that's a pretty exciting revelation, according to People. Before the season began filming, People had the chance to talk to the contestants before they were sent off to Cambodia to find out how they prepared, kind of knowing what to expect now.
"It's an open chapter of my life," Kelly Wiglesworth, from the first season, said. "I want to go out there, play really hard and finish the chapter. I'll form an alliance, and I'll make it work for me."
"Everyone's trying to catch everyone's eye. You have no idea what people are trying to get away with," Jeff Verner ,from season two, said. He then added that he plans to "lie my head off." "I'm just going to stir up drama," he admitted. "And tell the biggest lies I can think of. I'm going to have fun with this."
Terry Dietz dominated during his time on season 12, and he plans to do the same this time around. "Last time, I relied on my challenge abilities, but I'm 55 now," he said. "So I'll have to play a social game. I made a lot of mistakes when I played, almost 10 years ago. That means I've had 10 years to think it through and analyze what I did wrong."
As for contestant Andrew Savage, from season seven, (who also happens to be a very close friend of Probst's) he knows he won't be getting any special treatment.
"Jeff is committed to 'Survivor,'" he said. "If anything, he's going to be stricter on me than on others, just so it doesn't come across that he's favoring me. Jeff loves 'Survivor' a lot more than he loves me!"
What looks like it's going to be one of the most exciting, and challenging, seasons we've seen, fans can't wait to see what Cambodia has in store for these castaways.
"It's not going to be easy this time. They're going to make it really hard on us," Spencer Bledsoe, from season 28, said. "Whoever wins the game will earn it."
Check out the first official cast photos on Survivor Fever. See who gives it their all when "Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance" premiers on CBS on September 23.
