While the cast of “Survivor 49” features a NASA rocket scientist, a rock singer and a professional ice hockey player, 47-year-old Nate Moore is undoubtedly the most prolific castaway joining the latest season of the Emmy-winning reality competition series.
Over the last decade, Moore has been behind some of the biggest Marvel Studios blockbusters, including films like “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Black Panther,” “The Eternals,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Captain America: Brave New World.” Credited on the MCU projects as an executive producer, Moore announced in December 2024 that he would be leaving Marvel Studios to pursue independent ventures, including a stint as a contestant on “Survivor’s” 49th season.
Speaking with Parade ahead of the season’s highly anticipated premiere on Wednesday, September 24, the former VP of Production & Development at Marvel Studios opened up about his decision to step out from behind the camera and into the spotlight as he vies for the show’s $1 million grand prize and the coveted title of “Sole Survivor.”
Moore’s Been a ‘Survivor’ Fan Since Season 1 Aired in 2000
Despite his illustrious film career, Moore revealed that he’s been a “Survivor” fan since the first season aired in 2000.
“I just graduated gollege, I just got my first job. And I was living, because I needed a place to live, in the basement of a frat house next to UCLA. And so it was a tough summer, because you’re trying to transition out of being a student into a working person. And all my friends were out of town because it was summer,” said Moore, “But there was this show on called ‘Survivor.’ They were my new friends. And it was sort of the perfect mix of things I loved, like ‘The Real World’…and adventure. I loved that combination, and I loved the format of the show. And I’ve stuck with it ever since.”
“I’ve seen every episode of every series, and I’ve seen some series more than once,” he continued, “And I’m actually in the process now of showing my kids some of the episodes so that they can understand what I’m doing out here.”
Moore Applied to Play ‘Survivor’ 15 Years Before Getting Cast
While the father of two went on to reveal that he actually applied to be a contestant on “Survivor” shortly after discovering the series in the early 2000s, he added that he “did not get an interview.”
“Which is fine,” he said, “Because I think I would have been terrible.”
Now, nearly two decades later, Moore is finally getting his chance to outwit, outplay and outlast on Season 49, claiming that he was inspired to reapply for the show while in quarantine after contracting COVID.
“My friends were like, ‘Well, why don’t you take this opportunity to finally apply?’ So I asked my wife, and she said, ‘Go for it.’ And I did it, because [my wife]. Who I’ve been married to now for 13 years, I got her into the show as well, so she knows how much I love it. And I went for it because you’ve got to try. And I’m just so happy to be here, sitting here now, and be able to start playing,” Moore revealed.
Moore is Worried His MCU Reputation Could Affect His ‘Survivor 49’ Journey
Comparing the experience of competing on “Survivor” to producing MCU blockbusters, Moore added that it’s “fun” to not have the responsibility of being behind the camera, though he does find being in the spotlight “a bit weird.”
“I truly would play this game if it wasn’t on TV,” he said. “It’s not about being in front of the cameras. For me, it’s really about the game.”
GettyDespite his passion for the game, Moore added that he is concerned that his MCU reputation will follow him to Fiji for “Survivor 49,” and potentially affect his chances of winning the competition.
“I just worry that some of these younger kids might know, and so there’s no upside to lying,” said Moore, adding that he doesn’t think the other castaways will want to award him with the $1 million prize if they know he’s already a successful film producer. “Look, if I could get away with never saying what I did, I totally would. If no one calls me on it, I’m not going to offer it up. But we’ll see. I have to play it by ear.”
MCU and “Survivor” fans alike can catch Moore on the two-hour season premiere of “Survivor 49” airing Wednesday, September 24 at 8:00pm ET on CBS. New episodes of the season will similarly be available to stream on Paramount+ the day after their CBS debut.
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