While the milestone 50th season of “Survivor” is still on the air, and not set to air its epic finale episode until May 20, 2026, fans are already looking toward the future as CBS begins filming for Seasons 51 and 52 this summer.
Production on Season 51 reportedly began earlier this month (April 18), with filming for Season 52 set to begin immediately after the first 26-day season wraps in May.
As such, it’s unsurprising that we don’t currently know much about either of the upcoming installments. At least, that was the case, until a rumored cast list for Season 52 – which likely won’t hit CBS screens until February 2027 – was leaked online.
Here’s the Rumored Cast List for ‘Survivor 52: Blood vs. Water 3’
According to the unconfirmed cast list, “Survivor 52” will be yet another returning-players season, with 10 former castaways supposedly set to return alongside their loved ones to compete on the franchise’s third “Blood vs. Water” installment.
Here’s the full rumored cast list for “Survivor: Blood vs. Water 3”:
- Sean Rector (“Survivor: Marquesas”)
- Noah Rector (Sean’s son)
- Amanda Kimmel (“Survivor: China”; “Survivor: Micronesia”; “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains”)
- Katrina Kimmel (Amanda’s sister)
- Abi-Maria Gomes (“Survivor: Philippines”; “Survivor: Second Chance”)
- Fernando Torres (Abi-Maria’s boyfriend)
- Devon Pinto (“Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers”)
- Sonya Pinto (Devon’s mom)
- Domenick Abbate (“Survivor: Ghost Island”)
- Donna Abbate (Domenick’s daughter)
- Jesse Lopez (“Survivor 43”)
- Rebecca Lopez (Jesse’s wife)
- Anika Dhar (“Survivor 47”)
- Akshey Dhar (Akina’s brother)
- Genevieve Mushaluk (“Survivor 47”; “Survivor 50”)
- Mark Tallon (Genevieve’s husband)
- Sam Phalen (“Survivor 47”)
- Hannah Phalen (Sam’s wife)
- Sophi Balerdi (“Survivor 49”)
- Lui Balerdi (Sophi’s brother)
While fans were thrilled to see the long-awaited return of themed seasons after the rumored cast list leaked earlier this month, the question remains: Is it real?
Fans Debunk Rumored Cast List After Noting One Glaring Error
CBSUnfortunately, it seems that the Season 52 line-up has been quickly and firmly dispelled, not only by fans, but by several of the former castaways featured on the list.
“Nobody tell @rebeccalopez she is gonna be on Survivor 52,” wrote Jesse Lopez on his Instagram Story alongside a screenshot of the rumored cast list, adding, “@sophibalerdi I’m sending you a Zoom link now,” referring to the controversial “Zoom alliance” on the show’s currently-airing 50th season.
Abi-Maria Gomes further debunked the cast list on X when she wrote: “My question is: Who is Fernando Torres?”
The fiery “Survivor: Philippines” alum confirmed that she is not dating Fernando Torres, who is actually a former Spanish soccer player, but instead her longtime boyfriend, Fez, whom she lives with in Los Angeles.
“On this day, Abi discovered she has a boyfriend named Fernando Torres,” joked one fan on Reddit, with another adding, “It kills me they just took a famous Spanish footballer/manager for Abi-Maria’s boyfriend.”
Genevieve Mushaluk’s husband Mark Tallon similarly trolled the rumored cast on X, writing, “Plz delete this me and @hannahephalen are pregaming and we don’t want abi-maria’s boyfriend fernando torres to find out.”
A Third ‘Blood vs. Water’ Season Could Still Happen
CBS/GettyWhile the leaked cast list for “Survivor 52” managed to fool a handful of fans before being debunked, the possibility of a third “Blood vs. Water” season has been on many viewers’ “Survivor” wish-list for years.
Just last year, following the finale of Season 49, finalists Savannah Louie, Rizo Velovic and Sophi Balerdi – also known as the Tres Leches alliance – took to TikTok to express their interest in reuniting in a future “Blood vs. Water” season alongside their loved ones.
Savannah, who won Season 49, joked about competing alongside her boyfriend Brandon Stiles, while Rizo revealed his hopes to one day play “Survivor” with his longtime girlfriend, Elizabeth Doqaj – also known as “LizGod”.
After both Louie and Velovic returned to compete on “Survivor 50,” however, it’s no surprise that Savannah and Rizo were left off the rumored Season 52 cast list.
That being said, the rumored “Survivor 52” cast list did include Sophi Balerdi, who finished Season 49 as the first-runner-up. The list suggested that she’d be competing on the upcoming season alongside her brother Lui, a possibility she herself has teased on TikTok in recent months.
Fans are Convinced ‘Survivor 52’ Will Feature Returning Players
GettyWhile the specific cast of Season 52 has been proven to be false, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we won’t still be seeing a “Blood vs. Water” theme for the 2027 installment.
Longtime “Survivor” host Jeff Probst previously reported that fans could expect another returning player season “soon,” and the show’s casting website seems to confirm that statement.
For typical casting cycles, the website would encourage wannabee castaways to submit their applications for consideration on two seasons, which would film back-to-back in Fiji.
In the past, the application portal has invited people to apply for Season 47 & 48, since they’d film in the same three-month window. This time around, however, the portal only fielded applications for Season 51, suggesting that Season 52 will feature players that aren’t selected via a traditional casting process, such as returning players and their loved ones.
CBSThat being said, there’s no way to confirm that the returning player installment will definitely be a “Blood vs. Water” season. It could, alternatively, be another “Heroes vs. Villains” or general “All-Stars” season, this time around focused on returning “New Era” players.
A third “Fans vs. Favorites” season is also possible, following in the tradition of installments like “Survivor: Micronesia” and “Survivor: Caramoan.”
The only returning-player format we definitely won’t be seeing on Season 52 is the “Second Chance” format from “Survivor: Cambodia,” as it would have required a fandom-wide vote to determine its cast.
Given that the season is set to begin filming in either May or June 2026, it’s all but certain that a cast – whether it’s composed of first-time or returning-players – has already been determined.
