CBS has finally formally confirmed that Survivor's upcoming twentieth season -- which was filmed back-to-back with Survivor: Samoa in Samoa this past summer -- will be dubbed Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains and feature 20 castaways who have previously appeared on the long-running reality series.
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The network made the announcement at the conclusion of Sunday night's live Survivor: Samoa reunion show, with host Jeff Probst presenting a preview of the upcoming installment and revealing it will premiere on Thursday, February 11.
"For the last 10 years and 19 seasons Survivor has taken you to some of the most stunning locations around the planet and introduced unforgettable personalities -- and in the process forever changed the face of television," said Probst during the preview.
"Now deep in the South Pacific, 20 of Survivor's greatest castaways return and the conflict will ignite. One side, chosen for their skills in deception, manipulation and duplicity -- the villains. The other defined by their decisions of integrity, courage and honor -- the heroes. Twenty castaways will return seeking revenge or redemption in the biggest battle in Survivor history."
CBS isn't expected to formally reveal Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains' cast until early January, however online spoilers which allegedly identify which former castaways competed in the edition -- as well as some of the competition's results -- have been circulating online for months.
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Confirmation that Survivor's twentieth edition would be another long-rumored all-stars format had first surfaced when convicted original Survivor winner Richard Hatch filed a July court motion requesting he be allowed to leave home confinement to travel to Samoa for the competition. A judge subsequently denied Hatch's motion and rejected his request that the court seal the motion, which had included a copy of the letter in which Survivor casting director Lynne Spillman had invited Hatch on compete on the season, from the public.
Shawn Hantz -- the brother of Russell Hantz -- later confirmed the newly-revealed Survivor: Samoa runner-up returned to compete in the twentieth edition in a September interview with The Houston Chronicle.
CBS ordered Survivor's nineteenth and twentieth editions for broadcast during the upcoming 2009-2010 season in February and formally announced Samoa as the setting of the show's nineteenth season at the conclusion of May's Survivor: Tocantins reunion show.
According to The Los Angeles Times, Survivor's nineteenth and twentieth editions were filmed back-to-back due to budget cuts.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio