To commemorate their monumental 40th season titled Winners at War, Survivor brought back 20 former players. This is nothing new, as returning player seasons have featured heavily throughout the show’s history. Beginning with the 8th season Survivor All Stars and most recently with Survivor Edge of Extinction (though season 39 is a grey area due to Sandra Diaz-Twine and Boston Rob Mariano appearing though not competing), the show has often drawn from the pool of existing castaways when planning seasons using the popularity of former legends to draw interest from lapsed viewers.
