ARDROSS, SCOTLAND — Twenty-two everyday Americans find themselves in the Scottish Highlands, interacting inside a 19th-century castle and competing for a life-changing sum of money, all the while trying to solve, evade or commit "murder."
Earlier this year, they watched an identical experience on Peacock, when their shoes were filled by famous musicians, Olympic gold-winning athletes and reality TV stars on the competition series "The Traitors."
Once exclusive to the likes of Lisa Rinna, Dylan Efron and Donna Kelce, this treacherous adventure is now known to Abbey Benjamin, a 37-year-old nurse from Mangham, Louisiana, and Shane Beatty, a 32-year-old ironworker from Staten Island, New York.
Along with 20 other strangers from varied walks of life,
Benjamin and Beatty make up the inaugural class of the show's first all-civilian U.S. season titled "The Traitors: New Blood."
When the first season premiered in January 2023, the show brought together 10 reality show icons and 10 TV newcomers, all vying for an up to $250,000 prize − a fusion that helped the show land its first Emmy Award for reality casting.
Producers ditched civilians for its sophomore season, leaning into the inherent charisma and messiness that initially put stars on camera. The all-celebrity formula elevated the show, earning the Emmy for reality competition program consecutively for seasons 2, 3 and even 4 on Monday, Sept. 14.
So why shake things up now?
"We're just getting into our stride, and I think it's interesting to start a new thing like doing it with real people," Alan Cumming tells USA TODAY on set from his castle dressing room, moments before a player gets banished at the roundtable.
What do newbie players bring to the roundtable?
As the three-time Emmy-winning host explains, a cohort of everyday Americans raises the stakes and deepens the immersion in the murder mystery. Being on TV for the first time only adds to the pressure of the game, where the "faithful" must determine who among them are the deceiving "traitors" and banish them before they are "murdered."
Each contestant, whether a faithful or a traitor, has an irrefutable desire to take home the money, like Niyyah Hayes, an Indianapolis-based therapist, who entered the castle hoping to pay off her student loans.
"This is a huge chunk of change so that obviously alters a little bit of the ethos of what they’re doing," Cumming, 61, says. "There are other ways you could go about earning a lot of money for your family that aren’t quite as exhibitionist and sensational as this, but you can tell that everybody is so excited to be here."
Ben Archard, who has directed both the U.S. and U.K. versions of the show since its inception, has loved the energy celebrities have brought to the show, but promises the civilian cast bring a riveting new flavor.
"Yes, the show is about murder. Yes, it's about deceit, but it's about real emotion," Archard tells USA TODAY during the production of "New Blood." "They're more invested, more involved. The prize pot will mean a lot to them. So you get a very raw, real, genuine experience for them."
Civilian players aren’t afraid to get blood on their hands
While a dolled-up Bravo star may have reservations about muddying their Chanel boots during a "Traitors" mission, the "New Blood" cast doesn't think twice about carrying a giant statue up a hill, crossing a barrel while blindfolded, or whatever daunting challenge producers come up with – if it means raising the prize pot, grabbing a shield or getting away with murder.
"If people think the celebrities were fighting hard, just wait till they see this," says Mark Drake, the show's missions director. According to Drake, players formed friendships and alliances that make their performance in each mission unpredictable because "you don’t know what they’re going to do or how they’re going to react to each other."
Drake also teases that the missions are grander and more jaw-dropping than ever, with each one tying more closely into the game's strategy and the show's drama. "Everything’s bigger in every capacity, everything’s more complicated, and everything’s juicier story-wise," he says.
Civilian players aren't beholden to a shtick
A former "Survivor" castaway or "Big Brother" houseguest is expected to play a cutthroat, strategic game while a real housewife is ready to serve an explosive fight in the breakfast room or in the turret. Cumming explains that the non-celebrities enter the castle with a clean slate, free from expectations. Without preconceived notions from other franchises, viewers will meet a group of unknowns and learn to love them.
"People have got some really lovely stories about why they wanted to be here. What is it that brought them? It’s really lovely to hear their more personal stories," he says. "I’ve been very impressed by how they have bonded and how they’re really a great bunch of people."
Still though, he admits he does miss the housewives, especially seeing them soaked during the missions. "That’s what I miss most," he quips.
'New Blood' is a 'sort of psychological torture'
Beyond the campy fashion, haunting aesthetics, and chaotic gameplay, Cumming has described the show as "a sort of psychological torture that we get to witness."
"No matter how cognizant you are of that, you can't but help fall into these sort of herd pack like mentalities and make really stupid decisions," he adds.
As for who will be causing mayhem in the turret this year, Cumming teases a "dynamic we haven’t had before," something of a "dysfunctional, weird but lovely family."
To the "Traitors" viewers who’ve only tuned in so far to watch their favorite "Love Island" bombshells or "RuPaul’s Drag Race" queens play, Archard asks viewers to keep an open mind.
"There were newbies at one point, and people gave them a chance," he says. "And if you're slightly worried that it might not be what you're thinking, I'd be pretty sure we're going to prove you wrong."
"The Traitors: New Blood" premieres with a two-hour episode on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, and can be streamed the next day on Peacock.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Traitors' goes all civilian – Why 'New Blood' ditched celebrities for new season
