Jeff Probst reveals Survivor: Island of the Idols twist featuring Boston Rob and Sandra Diaz-Twine, introduces the cast

The Hollywood Reporter

Survivor legends Sandra Diaz-Twine and "Boston Rob" Mariano will become "idols" in Season 39, with giant statues of their heads residing on the Island of the Idols. The 20 contestants will be able to learn tips, tricks and trades from Diaz-Twine and Mariano when visiting the island. "We've changed our storytelling dramatically," Probst tells The Hollywood Reporter. "We're going through much deeper dives. The culture is going through a major shift right now, especially with gender. Let's just go and find interesting people and see where it leads us. It sounds like what we always do, where we sit down and ask ourselves, 'What is it we do again? Why do we we want people on this show?' We have a new (casting) team in place, and we've come up with the most diverse cast we've ever had, no compare. Even the cast noticed it when they were all together at Ponderosa and we met with them. They all said: 'Oh my god. There are so many different people from so many different walks of life.'"