Survivor star Rick Devens joins Big Brother season 28 cast
Entertainment Weekly reports exclusively that Survivor fan favorite Rick Devens will compete on Big Brother season 28, premiering July 9 on CBS. He is one of two former Survivor castaways set to join the summer reality series, though CBS has not officially confirmed the crossover casting twist and the second player’s identity remains unrevealed.
Key Takeaways
- Rick Devens, a Survivor 50 fan favorite, is heading from the island to the Big Brother house for season 28.
- EW reports a second former Survivor player will also compete, but that castaway has not been named publicly.
- CBS introduced 14 new houseguests during a livestream ahead of the July 9 premiere.
- The winner of Big Brother season 28 earns a $750,000 prize after weekly evictions inside the surveilled house.
- Devens would become the second Survivor alum to play Big Brother, following Cirie Fields on season 25.
Who Is Rick Devens Joining on Big Brother Season 28?
According to Entertainment Weekly’s exclusive report, Devens is moving from Survivor to Big Brother as one of two former island competitors. Sources close to the production told EW that both Survivor veterans are part of the season 28 cast, even though neither CBS nor producers have publicly confirmed their participation.
EW notes that the second Survivor player’s identity has yet to be revealed. Devens and his fellow castaway would become the second and third Survivor players to later appear on Big Brother, following Devens’ Survivor 50 castmate Cirie Fields, who finished fifth on season 25 alongside her son Jared.
What Does the Rest of the Big Brother 28 Cast Look Like?
Before the Devens news broke, CBS unveiled 14 new houseguests during a livestream hosted by Julie Chen Moonves, a first for the franchise, according to Deadline. The season 28 theme is “Time Trip,” where the past, present, and future collide inside a house wired with around-the-clock cameras and microphones.
The announced cast includes an MMA fighter, a rocket scientist, a corporate game show host, and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Salina EsTitties, competing under offstage name Jason De Puy. Among the 14 players are Haley Thogmartin, a 29-year-old telemedicine executive from Wildwood, Missouri, and Ashley Trail, a 24-year-old bartender from Chicago who grew up in Alton, Illinois, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Why Does a Survivor Crossover Matter for Big Brother?
Reality TV crossovers are nothing new, but Rick Devens brings a specific kind of buzz. EW describes him as a Survivor 50 fan favorite who could shake up the game inside the Big Brother house, where alliances form under constant surveillance and eviction votes arrive every week.
EW suggests it is unlikely Devens or the mystery second Survivor player will cause physical chaos indoors. When it comes to chaotic gameplay, however, the outlet warns viewers to strap in for what is sure to be a wild ride. Keep up with casting surprises and premiere schedules in our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
When Does Big Brother Season 28 Premiere?
Big Brother season 28 premieres Thursday, July 9, on CBS. Deadline reports a special 90-minute premiere episode at 8 p.m. ET/PT, while the St. Louis Post-Dispatch lists a 7 p.m. local start time for area viewers. EW reports that Devens joins a cast announced earlier Tuesday that already included Drag Race star Jason De Puy.
Once inside, the houseguests will live together around the clock, voting one player out each week until a single winner claims the $750,000 grand prize. With 14 players announced and at least two Survivor stars reportedly waiting in the wings, season 28 is shaping up to be one of the most stacked Big Brother casts in recent memory.