New ‘Naked and Afraid’ Series Brings Back Controversial, Fan-Favorite Cast Members for ‘Global Showdown’
Naked and Afraid alums are gearing up for a competition like no other.
In the new series Naked & Afraid: Global Showdown, 14 past participants from around the world will fight for the largest cash prize in the show’s history – $200,000. Competing in teams of two and representing different parts of the world and regions of the U.S., these elite survivalists will battle to survive 40 days in three distinct ecosystems in South Africa’s Zululand.
“This really is the best of the best in this global showdown,” one cast member says in the teaser.
New ‘Naked and Afraid’ series introduces franchise-first scoring system
The environment that these 14 survivalists will find themselves in is no joke. They’ll face a scorching savannah stalked by leopards and rhinos, a humid marshland ruled by hippos and crocodiles, and the violent Indian Ocean, teeming with Zambezi sharks. As usual, they’ll confront the elements with no food, no water, and no clothes as they’re forced to rely on their survival skills (and ability to build interpersonal relationships) to make it through the challenge.
In a franchise-first, Naked and Afraid: Global Showdown will introduce an official scoring system. Teams will earn points by completing survival tasks and excelling in head-to-head challenges. Winning teams will avoid elimination, in addition to unlocking critical tools to acquire food, water and shelter. Meanwhile, the bottom two teams will be forced to face off in an elimination challenge if they hope to remain in the game.
Another twist, teams won’t be allowed to share resources or trade. As for sabotage, don’t even think about it. Each team must rely solely on its own skill and will to survive, making this a true test of contestants’ bushcraft skills.
Meet the ‘Naked and Afraid: Global Showdown’ cast
So, who will tackle the epic Global Showdown challenge? The cast includes divisive past past participants like Jeff Zausch, franchise legends like “Savage” Matt Wright, and wild cards like Marina Fukushima and Rene Murad, who both appeared on the Brazilian version of Naked and Afraid but are largely unknown to U.S. audiences.
- Ky Furneaux and Alexa Towersey representing Australia
- Rene Murad and Marina Fukushima representing Brazil
- Pablo Melin and Fernanda Perez representing Mexico
- Jeff Zausch and Kerra Bennett representing Texas
- Matt Wright and Gabby Balassone representing USA East
- Frank Eytcheson and Teal Bulthuis representing USA South
- Dan Link and Rachel Strohl representing USA West
Naked and Afraid: Global Showdown premieres Sunday, May 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel.
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