‘Survivor' Legend Says He's Returning to Reality TV After 15 Years
Survivor legend Russell Hantz is preparing for his reality TV comeback!
On Friday, May 1, Hantz shared he's joining the cast of a show 15 years after his last appearance on the CBS reality series. However, he did not reveal which series he'll allegedly be joining.
"I have literally received 4 different offers to do 4 different shows this year alone. I have finally said yes to one of the offers! See you guys soon!" Hantz wrote.
In the replies, fans began speculating as to what his next project could possibly be.
"Cant wait to see you on Traitors. Letsss goooo!!!" one fan wrote. "House of Villains or Traitors. Gotta be. Let the Russell Renaissance begin!" said another.
"I think I'll cry if it's Dancing with the Stars!" added a third.
Hantz previously starred in Survivor: Samoa in 2009, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains in 2010, and Survivor: Redemption Island in 2011. He placed 2nd, 3rd, and 17th, respectively.
Though it's been 15 years since his last reality TV appearance in the United States, he did briefly appear on Australian Survivor in 2018, placing 23rd.
Despite not appearing in the U.S. version of the series for 28 seasons, he's widely considered one of the most iconic villains the show has ever seen.
"Russell really did reinvent a couple of things," Survivor host Jeff Probst said in a December 2020 video after rewatching Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. "He's the first guy who ever said, 'Why do I need to wait for a clue to go look for an idol? How many spots could it be in?' I really was reminded of how impressed I was by his absolute relentless pursuit of any and everything."
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 10:08 PM.