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The country of Fiji has spoken.
Despite many U.S.-based productions heading back to work following March’s coronavirus-prompted production shutdown, Survivor may not resume filming until spring of 2021, according to a report by Inside Survivor.
The show, which films in Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands, had hoped to begin filming Season 41 this fall, but due to the Fijian government’s new COVID-19 safety measures, the country’s borders remain closed to non-citizens.
Production is now said to be returning to its regular schedule, with a possible plan to film seasons 41 and 42 back-to-back between April and July of 2021. This would likely delay new episodes of the CBS reality staple until this time next year, which would result in the longest wait between seasons in franchise history. But even an April start date is, of course, contingent on the state of the pandemic and the Fijian government.
“[It’s] going to be a little more complicated because we literally have to navigate some international waters,” CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl previously told our sister site Deadline.
In July, Survivor was officially bumped from CBS’ fall schedule, as the network stated producers “are continuing to work with officials in Fiji on the appropriate time to start production on its next edition, with health and safety matters the top priority for everyone involved.”
Love Island, another CBS reality series which also films in Fiji, changed course and is currently shooting its new season Stateside in a Las Vegas “bubble.” But Survivor EP and host Jeff Probst recently shot down the idea of attempting production in the U.S., likely because the show’s infrastructure is very much set up in Fiji. (Not only does the show receive a healthy tax rebate for filming there, but four months of pre-production for Season 41 had already begun back in January, so set pieces, including props and equipment, are already in place.) Additionally, the show’s production team includes crew from all over the world, and, as is the case with Australia, some countries are still enforcing strict international travel bans.
Though Fiji’s tax rebates are currently frozen, Probst did say that the country wants production to continue once it is safe to do so. “They have figured out how to handle [the pandemic], and they just want to ensure that when we come shoot there, we don’t change that,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “We’re working together with them, but they’ve been very production-friendly in terms of wanting it to happen.”
This is my fav show and I hate to have to wait so long :(
Aren’t we all in the process of our own episodes of Survivor now anyway?
In America yes.
Up here in Canada thankfully MOST people have a brain.
ha ha
We’ll let you know just after Nov. 3rd if America’s brain surgery is a success.
That comment aged well
I wonder if Australian Survivor or Survivor South Africa will make it to air before then.
Oddly a Mexican version was able to film during the pandemic.
I wish they would just move the show to a different country. I miss the days when they would do some place different every season… ads more variety… it’s getting too stale with the same place every season.
This! Every season feels the same and it is partially due to never moving locations. I know it is probably easier on production to chill in Fiji’s resorts while the players are in game, but it all feels so sterile and not like the Survivor I once loved. Expand your scope and give us originality for a few seasons, I’d love something fresh! (Even if it is just finding an interesting locale within the US and filming there).
I 100% agree! Even for this year, I feel like they could go find a place in Florida or California (or Hawaii!), quarantine, and film the exact same show.
Why not film with non-American contestants?
Give us an Australian version. Jeff can host remotely. Frankly, I’m in favor of less Jeff. Too much of him trying to be Dr. Phil.
It’s a creative industry, be creative. It doesn’t have to look exactly like it used to.
If there’s a will, there’s a way. Period. Full stop.
In the meantime…AIR THE AMAZING RACE!!!!!
Umm there are like 5 seasons of Australian version. A couple of good ones from South Africa. New Zealand has one as well. Just go ahead and check those!
There already is an Australian version and that was also shut down to to the pandemic.
Ughh way too long.
CBS should re-air the first Survivor for its 20th anniversary.
Just a thought.
Survivor is my favorite show and it’s a shame this pandamic had to hit all over the world but safely first. I was looking forward to survivor but I guess now I have to have patience
Survivor is our family’s favorite show and I wish they could have been a little more creative and started to expand their filming locations since Fiji is getting old now. Plus with the pandemic they could have found a bubble location and filmed there in Hawaii or South Florida or Southern California. Heck why not do an Alaskan version for once? Chance it up and make it fresh? I can’t believe we have to wait another year! This sucks!