Returning Housemates

**Returnee Season** is when housemates from the past season(s) of Reload return to play again. So far, this has been seen in Season 5, Season 7, and Season 10. There are certain seasons where housemates have returned, but as hosts or guests instead of players. This has happened twice, during Season 4 & Season 6.

In Season 4, Reload: Teen Takeover, Miranda Shaye returned as a special guest. She did not return as an official player, but hosted the competition during final week. She is the only housemate to return as a host for an in-game competition.

In Season 5, Reload: Fans Vs. Favs, five previous players returned as "Favorites" of the game to compete against five new players, known as "Fans". These five housemates included Brandi Julep, known for being underestimated, Joe Sugg, known for his humor and charm, Mathieu Robin, known for his aggressive game-play, Hannah Monroe, known for her strategic force, and Kyle Powers, a player who left early but was loved for his romance with Miranda Shaye. Miranda was originally slated to compete alongside Kyle for a second time. Unfortunately, due to contractual obligations she could not compete. Brandi was selected to replace her.

In Season 6, Reload: Top 10 Moments, Chelsie Titan & Kyle Powers returned as hosts for the award season. They did not return as players, but instead as commentators.

In Season 7, Reload: All-Stars, thirteen housemates from the previous five seasons returned to play in an All-Star Battle. This season has the most housemates to compete in the history of Reload. Twenty-two former housemates were contacted by production to go through the casting process. Production was looking for an even mix of Heroes, Villains, Strategists, and Fan Favs, and Finalists. There was representation from all of the previous five seasons. The cast included: (Season 1) Jaime, Roland, Alex, (Season 2) Cindy, Ross, Bryon, (Season 3) Miranda, Shane, Hugo, (Season 4) Alacia, Cat, (Season 5) Rex, and Ciera.

In Season 10, Reload: Second Chance, ten housemates from previous seasons returned for another chance of winning the game and redemption from their past seasons. Twenty-six housemates were contacted by production to go through to the casting process with only twenty-one housemates accepting the offer to return. Most of the housemates were cast based being players who showed great potential to win their original season, and for some to seek redemption from past mistakes or failed strategies. The cast included: (Season 1) Daniel, (Season 2) Eve, (Season 4) Charlie, Lex, Sasha, (Season 5) Harper, (Season 8) Bubba, Wendy, (Season 9) Alexis, and Niles.

**NOTE:** Stats in bold indicate current record holder.

## **Casting**

**KEY:**

**✓** Accepeted Invite

**✗** Declined Invite

**⌅** Cut from Cast

**⌆** Backed Out

**→** Moved to Next Round

**✪** Final Cast

**✬** Replacement
### Fans Vs. Favorites

Fifteen players from past seasons were asked to return for this season. Two declined the invitation to return, and thus withdrew from the casting process. Two more were cut from round one along with Miranda, who withdrew before Round 2 began. Five more were cut from Round Two, however, due to a family emergency Melissa had to withdraw from the Season before production began. She was forced to sign an NDA and she was replaced by Brandi.

### All-Stars

Twenty-two former housemates were called and invited back for a chance to play in All-Stars. Three declined the invite and withdrew from the casting process. Four people were cut from Round One of the interviews, and two were cut from Round Two. This left thirteen past housemates to make up the All-Stars cast.

## Second Chance

Twenty-six people were contacted by production to move forward in casting, however five people declined or did not respond to the invite. A poster was released with three housemates, revealing that one of those three would return for a second chance. For the first time, it was revealed who all received an invitation to return. Potential housemates were made to sign an NDA agreement not to talk about the casting process until the second episode of season ten airs.

## Trivia

* Daniel Somberg stated on social media that he did not intentionally decline the invite for Fans vs. Favs. Instead, he missed the deadline to return production's call.
* Melissa Beasley shared on social media that she was supposedly the back-up in case Brandi could not compete on Season 10.
* It Was announced in October of 2020 that some ideas for returning player seasons ranged from Heroes vs. Villains, Second Chances, and Coaches.
* In February of 2021, a producer of the show teased that Season 10 could feature returning players It was confirmed a year later in March of 2022 after the conclusion of Season 9.
* Lex White stated in an interview that he believes he did not get chosen because it came down between him and Rex Li for the "younger guy" arch. Rex also said something similar stating that "he knew production was stuck between him and another guy for the last spot".
* Ross shard in a vlog that Eve back out of All-Stars casting due to her brother being ill. He also shared that the family emergency he left for was actually due to Jude diagnosis with an unknown illness.
* Jaime revealed in an interview that she and Lex were cast to appear in the original version of season five, titled Reload: Coaches. They were goin to appear as coaches in the game, with the chance of maybe being a housemate. She stated that the theme was scrapped in favor of the Fans vs. Favs theme. She stated that production said they would be considered heavily for an upcoming season with returning players, being Reload: All-Stars, which Jaime participated in but Lex did not.
* Previous housemates, Caroline and Alexis (from Season 9) both confirmed that they have been approached by casting for Season 10. Daniel Somber (Season 1) also hinted at returning in a video on social media, but did not confirm the invitation. Housemates Sasha and Charlie (from Season 4) also confirmed they have been approached for Season 10. None of these housemates have been confirmed to be in the cast, however some have speculated that it will be a Rookies Vs. Veterans, or All-Stars II.