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Paramount+ Launches “The Challenge” Cutthroat II, $500K Prize

7/15/2026

Summary

Paramount+ Streams Cutthroat

Paramount+ will stream The Challenge season 42, Cutthroat II, on Wed., Aug. 5, 2026, after the series leaves MTV for the streaming service.
Twenty-four reality-TV veterans—including Survivor, Big Brother, Too Hot to Handle, Love Island USA alumni and Challenge stars CT Tamburello and Johnny Bananas—will compete in three teams for $500,000.
Filming in Thailand’s landscape, called the franchise’s most intense game yet, features host TJ Lavin returning as Paramount+ touts production quality for Cutthroat.

Summary

Nelson Thomas Competes

Nelson Thomas will compete with a prosthetic foot, series’ first disabled contestant.
The season adds a “Trial by combat” challenge, revives Cutthroat after a 16-year gap (last used in season 20, 2010), and features a hooded UFC fighter on elimination floor, raising stakes.
TJ Lavin says the twists force captains to balance dominance with loyalty as episodes debut Aug. 5 on Paramount+, with winning captain deciding the $500,000 prize split.

Summary

Bunim/Murray Produces

Bunim/Murray Productions will produce Season 42, with Julie Pizzi, Justin Booth and Jacob Lane as executive producers.
Co-executive producers Diego Amson, Brad Tiemann and Joe Awful join supervising producer Margaret Morales, while Benjamin Hurvitz and Melissa Tallerine act as MTV executive producers, reflecting collaboration between Banijay-owned and MTV entities.
Having previously added spinoffs such as The Challenge: All Stars on Paramount+ and a CBS version, Paramount+ markets the Cutthroat format with a logline urging captains to balance dominance and loyalty.

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Paramount+ Streams Cutthroat

Paramount+ will stream The Challenge season 42, Cutthroat II, on Wed., Aug. 5, 2026, after the series leaves MTV for the streaming service.
Twenty-four reality-TV veterans—including Survivor, Big Brother, Too Hot to Handle, Love Island USA alumni and Challenge stars CT Tamburello and Johnny Bananas—will compete in three teams for $500,000.
Filming in Thailand’s landscape, called the franchise’s most intense game yet, features host TJ Lavin returning as Paramount+ touts production quality for Cutthroat.

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