“Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” is back for Season 4 with another star-studded lineup and grueling challenges. The Fox competition series, which pushes celebrities to their physical and mental limits in a military-style environment, returns Thursday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m. ET.
This season’s recruits include a mix of reality stars, athletes, actors, and musicians. According to Deadline, the cast must endure harsh desert conditions and complete high-intensity drills, ranging from supply searches in abandoned villages to underwater escape missions and urban ladder crossings 50 feet above city streets.
Who’s in the ‘Special Forces’ Season 4 Cast?
Among the most recognizable names is Teresa Giudice of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” who will compete alongside her daughter Gia Giudice, a rising Bravo star from “Next Gen NYC.” The cast also features former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Eva Marcille and “The Valley” personality Brittany Cartwright.
Actor and singer Jussie Smollett joins the competition, as does “Sister Wives” patriarch Kody Brown, who has already made headlines for behind-the-scenes drama. Social media figures like Mark Estes and Brianna LaPaglia, known to fans as Brianna “Chickenfry,” also step into the spotlight.
Athletes are heavily represented, including World Cup champion Christie Pearce Rampone, NFL stars Randall Cobb, Andrew East, and Johnny Manziel, NBA champion Nick Young, and Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson East. Country singer Jessie James Decker and her husband, Eric Decker, bring a married couple dynamic to the season. Supermodel Chanel Iman and actor Ravi V. Patel round out the cast.
‘Special Forces’ Season 4: Spoilers & What to Expect
In a first look trailer, the challenges prove as brutal as ever. Kody Brown is seen taking a fall, Brittany Cartwright breaks down in tears, and Brianna LaPaglia shouts, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe!” as recruits push through their limits.
Early teasers also hint at both drama and camaraderie. Gia Giudice spoke exclusively to Us Weekly about tension with Kody Brown, saying, “There were just scenarios — which you guys will see on ‘Special Forces’ — where, maybe, he wasn’t being the best team player and he wasn’t looking out for the people who were on his team and more so just looking out for himself and the end goal to win.” She clarified that there is “no beef,” adding, “In the end, we were all looking out for each other.”
Brown also addressed the rumors of a potential feud, telling Us Weekly he didn’t believe he clashed with Gia, but admitted to generational differences within the group. “I am Gen X and half the cast was Gen Z,” he said. “I honestly felt like I got along with Gia. There was a point where we’re forced to make a choice about something and I just got as deadly honest about it as I could.”
Meanwhile, fans can expect emotional moments from married duo Eric and Jessie James Decker, who revealed they turned down earlier seasons before finally saying yes. Jessie admitted she initially resisted but ultimately joined because she didn’t want to feel like she had failed. “It was a whole different experience,” Eric said. “To do it together was actually really fun.”
‘Special Forces’ Season 4 Winner Predictions
As for potential winners, fan predictions point to recruits with athletic backgrounds, such as Shawn Johnson East or Christie Pearce Rampone, who may have an advantage in endurance and discipline. Olympic training and professional sports careers often translate to strong mental resilience — a key skill in surviving the relentless physical and emotional toll of “Special Forces.”
Former “The Bachelor” star and Season 2 “Special Forces” champion Nick Viall has also echoed the sentiment when weighing in with his early predictions. On the August 7 episode of his podcast, “The Viall Files,” the 44-year-old highlighted the athletes as frontrunners but cautioned fans not to assume their physicality guarantees victory.
“Eric [Decker] is obviously a former NFL player,” Viall said. “No NFL players have passed a course because it’s an emotional test more than a physical test, because at some point, they’re literally torturing you for eight to 10 days straight. You are made to feel like your worst self.”
Based on the first look trailer, however, not every contestant appears equipped for the long haul. Brittany Cartwright was seen breaking down in tears during a mission, leading many viewers to believe she may not get particularly far in the competition. While Cartwright has been open about her struggles on reality TV before, the extreme conditions of this series could prove to be an even greater challenge.
With tears, feuds, and near-death-level challenges already teased, “Special Forces” Season 4 promises intense competition and emotional breakthroughs when it premieres Sept. 25 on Fox.
