Jeff Probst returns to host the new Survivor season. Pic credit: CBS
Survivor 51 rumors are already setting off plenty of conversation among fans.
With a new season now on the horizon, production is underway in Fiji.
That gives viewers who were frustrated by Survivor 50 something fresh to look forward to.
Survivor 51 rumors and information
CBS has already confirmed that Survivor 51 is on the fall TV schedule.
New episodes will air Wednesday nights at 8/7c, and the installments will continue to run 90 minutes.
That should provide viewers with a bit more consistency heading into the new slate of episodes.
Another welcome update is that a new season of The Amazing Race will also air on Wednesday nights.
And here is where things become especially interesting: new rumors are pointing to early cast details for Survivor 51.
Examining rumors about the Survivor 51 cast
According to the latest chatter, Season 51 may open with 20 castaways. That would mirror the way Season 40, Winners at War, began.
But the biggest change appears to be in the tribe setup.
Reports suggest Season 51 will use two tribes of 10 players each, ending the three-tribe structure that has defined the New Era.
That could make the early immunity battles more competitive and help avoid one tribe becoming completely overmatched from the start.
Many fans have been hoping producers would bring back the two-tribe format, and it is easy to see why.
It can create more unpredictable gameplay, where luck does not play such a huge role in deciding who is eliminated first.
It also leaves room for challenge ideas that feel new. Yes, the show is still working in the same Fiji location, but Season 51 could still deliver a fresher feel.
Hopefully, the new season will also hold off on the Merge a little longer and let the story breathe.
Rushing straight to the Merge has rarely produced the best TV.
There are also unconfirmed rumors that each tribe may include one or two returning players. That chatter may have been mixed up with earlier Survivor 52 speculation, however, so nothing has been confirmed yet.
Stay tuned, because Survivor 51 likely already started filming. That means even more spoilers and updates could surface soon.
And no, despite what some fans may wish, Survivor 51 is not expected to be 39 days.
