The best Survivor players have to balance being present in the moment with thinking several moves ahead in the future. In a way, Survivor viewers are no different. While fans can currently enjoy making their own Q Skirts, engaging in high-stakes games of hide-and-seek, and binging reruns of The Andy Griffith Show, they also love to debate and discuss what might come next for their favorite reality competition franchise.

With Jeff Probst telling Entertainment Weekly before Survivor 46 began on CBS that there would be no returning players through season 48, attention has turned to what could be seen as the biggest installment ever — Survivor 50. Fans have been theorizing what could be in store for the landmark season. Could it be another fan-voted Second Chance? Might it be Old Era vs. New Era? Perhaps a season full of runner-ups (after season 40 was all winners)?

Jeff Probst on ‘Survivor 46’.
Robert Voets/CBS

While fans have been busy casting their various dream seasons, there is one person who has no idea what season 50 will be, and it is the man most responsible for making the show — host and showrunner Probst.

“We have not come up with our idea for 50 yet,” Probst tells EW. It’s not that the crew is not excited about hitting the big 5-0, and all indications are that something special will be in store (unlike season 25, which brought only three players back, and season 30, which was all newbies). However, there is simply too much show to produce before they get there.

“Obviously, we think about it,” Probst says. “But I think it’s easier to think about it when you’re writing about Survivor rather than when you’re producing it.” (Tough, but fair.)

Jeff Probst on ‘Survivor 46’.
Robert Voets/CBS

The host notes that there are three other seasons that need his attention before he can even think about hitting the half-century mark. “We still have 47, 48, and 49, and you might think I’m deflecting, but I don’t. To me, those are stress-inducing problems. What are we going to do in 47? What are we going to do in 48? What are we going to do in 49?”

But Probst acknowledges that something special does need to be in store when they finally do hit the magic number. “Then, if we get to 50, what are we going to do? And how do you top Winners at War? What is the idea that would be fun to do?”

The host is blunt with the answer to his rhetorical question: “I don’t know. We’re working on it, dreaming about it a lot. Don’t have the answer yet.”

Jeff Probst on ‘Survivor 46’.
Robert Voets/CBS

Of course, it should be noted that team Survivor committed to the all-winners concept of season 40 pretty late in the process, after feeling out other potential returning player themes before settling on the champion edition. And there is plenty of time to bat around different ideas considering season 50 will not start filming until around Memorial Day, 2025 — and then airing in early 2026.

So it may be a while before Probst and Co. know what Survivor 50 will actually be. But that doesn’t mean we’ll stop asking him.

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