Mike Whitemay be known nowadays for his critically acclaimed and Emmy-winning work onThe White Lotus. Dyed-in-the-wool fans may remember the actor, director and filmmaker's celebrated previous works likeSchool of RockandEnlightened. There might be some who even remember Mike's reality TV debut, racing with his dad around the world twice onThe Amazing Race. But Mike White has always had an affiliation withSurvivor. For years, he had discussed creative choices with host and executive producerJeff Probst, advising him on specific seasons. In Season 37, after years of watching at home, Mike decided to try his own hand at the island experience, playing in 2018'sSurvivor: David vs. Goliath. In an installment of the CBS reality series filled with colorful characters and iconic moments, Mike was one of its best players, laying low in the first half of the game until he delivered some precision blindsides towards the end. His skillfulness got him all the way to the Final Three, where he finished as runner-up of the season. Partially inspired by his time onDavid vs. Goliath, Mike went on to createThe White Lotus, a career-changing HBO series that has blown up social media throughout its three seasons. And, with Season 4 on the way, many assumed that he would have the time nor the willingness to go out and playSurvivoragain. But, indeed, he's going back to the beach for a second season, one of a whopping 24 castaways in the upcomingSurvivor 50. The full cast of Season 50 was announced on the Wednesday, May 28 edition ofCBS Mornings. Following the video, Probst sat down with the hosts to discuss the biggest stories from the group of returning players. And, of course, conversation naturally turned to Mike White, and how he found his way from writing out backstabbing in beautiful environments to living in one once more. Related:'Survivor' Season 1 Cast: Where Are They Now? "Mike, after he finished playing, said, 'I want to play again,'" Probst reveals. "And that was beforeWhite Lotus. And thenWhite Lotushit. And I thought, 'Well, he'll never play again.' But he kept texting and saying, 'Look, I'm serious. If you ever do anything where you have returning players, I want to play again.' So we're happy to have Mike." CBS Morningsco-hostVladimir Duthiersresponded that Mike, "now one of the most powerful guys in Hollywood," may be able to wield some outside-of-the-game influence as a cudgel. After all, this is somebody who broughtJennifer Coolidge'scareer up another level and putMurray Bartletton the map. And, as much as the point may have been joking, in Probst's opinion, it's absolutely a weapon he could have in his arsenal. "Don't think Mike White, who is clever enough to write and directWhite Lotus, has not thought about that," he replies. "I'm sure it's gone through his head, too." Could we see Mike White make it to the end of the game once again? WillThe White LotusSeason 4 end up crafting characters based on his fellow returneesBenjamin "Coach" Wade,Cirie FieldsandQuintavius "Q" Burdette? Regardless of how he does inSurvivor 50, we're sure to have a fantastic time watching his stay on the island. Related: Meet the Full Cast of 'Survivor 50' Jeff Probst Reveals How 'White Lotus' Creator Mike White Made His Return to 'Survivor'first appeared on Parade on May 29, 2025
