6 Survivor runner-ups we'd love to see in the Survivor 50 cast

Survivor 50 casting is currently underway! With filming starting in 2025, we're bound to learn sooner rather than later who Jeff Probst and the Survivor team pick to play what's going to be one of the most iconic seasons in Survivor history!

According to Probst, Survivor had narrowed the list of potential players to about 100 players earlier this summer. We haven't heard any updates in a while, but we do have a few ideas who should be considered for Survivor 50.

When sharing a few ideas for Survivor 50, I mentioned an all runner-up season. While I don't think that's going to happen, I picked six Survivor runner-ups who came so close to winning a season of the series that I would love to see in Survivor 50.

Let's get the list started with the most recent runner-up and current cohost of On Fire with Jeff Probst, Charlie Davis.

Charlie Davis

Last Survivor season: Survivor 46

Charlie Davis finished runner-up in the most recent season of Survivor to Kenzie Petty, but the loss was not without controversy. Many people believe Charlie was the best player of Survivor 46, but after Charlie had some help from Kenzie and others to take out Maria Shrime Gonzalez, Kenzie took home the win.

Charlie is one of the most articulate recent Survivor players. He's a true student of the game, and he executed his strategy nearly to perfection in Survivor 46, choosing to operate in the shadows and pull the strings with great social relationships. We'd love to see Charlie return for Survivor 50, and it seems pretty likely to happen, honestly.

Currently, Charlie is the cohost of On Fire with Jeff Probst, the Survivor podcast, and it just seems like Charlie's proximity to the game, love for the game, and willingness to do it again (if he is!) will make it happen.

Mike White

Last Survivor season: Survivor: David vs. Goliath (Season 37)

Mike White is one of the most fun Survivor players for me, who has been a big fan of White's TV and movie work for a long time. Currently, White is the creator, showrunner, and executive producer of The White Lotus, so he's busy. Who knows if he would be down to play Survivor again?

White finished runner-up behind Nick Wilson on Survivor: David vs. Goliath. Again, many people think White deserved to win, but that's how it goes sometimes. Like rock and roll, Survivor isn't about getting an A. The Sex Pistols never won anything, either, Mike! We'd love to see White return for Survivor 50. And, he might have an in with production, as well. White is (famously) friends with Jeff Probst. Recently, Probst proposed a possibility of White working on the series as a producer in the future. As long as is it's after Survivor 50, I'm cool with it.

Domenick Abbate

Last Survivor season: Survivor: Ghost Island (season 36)

Domenick Abbate came the closest to winning Survivor and actually losing than any player in 46 seasons of Survivor. For those who don't recall, Dom finished runner-up to Wendell Holland in Survivor: Ghost Island in an absolute gut punch. The pair tied with five votes each during the final vote, which resulted in Laurel Johnson casting the winning vote for Wendell over Dom. Ouch.

I'd love to see Dom play Survivor again! He's another incredibly strong, aggressive player that we need on Survivor 50. If he's on the beach, Dom is going to try to win. Watching him with other incredible competitors would be amazing. I really hope that it happens!

Aubry Bracco

Last Survivor season: Survivor: Edge of Extinction (season 38)

After playing Survivor three times, I totally understand why Aubry Bracco would not be interested in returning for Survivor 50, but I do hope that we'll see the runner-up from Survivor: Kaoh Rong in Survivor 50.

Aubry is considered to be one of the best Survivor players of all time who never won the game. She's also a fan favorite, and I don't think I'm alone in hoping Aubry will be back for the new season.

Aubry also lost one of the most controversial finales in Survivor history when Michelle Fitzgerald was voted the winner of the Survivor: Kaoh Rong. Looking back, Aubry is one of the runner-ups who probably should have won. Is redemption part of Aubry's story? It would be a great one!

Russell Hantz

Last Survivor season: Survivor: Redemption Island (season 22)

It's been a long time since we've seen Russell Hantz on Survivor. After playing the game three times and finishing runner-up in Survivor: Samoa and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, Hantz would be an incredible addition to Survivor 50.

Look, I do not like Russell, how he plays, or how carries himself in or out of Survivor, but there's no denying that Russell has changed the way Survivor is played. He is both admirable in some areas, including his knack for finding hidden immunity idols and his strategic game, and fallible in others, including how he treats people, how he contributes to camp life and the social part of Survivor. But, again, few players have been responsible for changing the way the game is played, and that's the sole reason he should return to Survivor 50.

Would Russell finally play the game differently? How would some of the new era players react to Russell? Would they target him? Would they keep him around because they know he can't win? I'd love to see it.

Stephen Fishbach

Last Survivor season: Survivor: Cambodia (season 31)

Stephen Fishbach finished runner-up to J.T. Thomas in Survivor: Tocantins. And, honestly, had he played any other season of Survivor, he probably would have won. J.T. is one of the most likable Survivor players ever, especially among the players on that season. Stephen was going to have to get J.T. out of the game to win, and unfortunately, he couldn't do that.

Stephen played again in Survivor: Cambodia, which was the Second Chance season, and he played the game well. He was the 11th person voted out of the season and last 29 days on Survivor: Cambodia.

I'd love to see him return for another season! Hopefully, he's interested in playing Survivor 50!

Stay tuned for more news about Survivor 50!