'The Challenge: Total Madness' Reveals Cast for Season 35 — And a Shocking, Game-Changing Twist

Aneesa Ferreira, Cory Wharton and, of course, Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio will be back when the MTV reality competition premieres on April 1

By Dana Rose Falcone

Published on March 4, 2020 12:30 PM

War of the Worlds 2 may have ended, but Total Madness is about to begin. And, apparently, “it looks like a literal war zone.”

When MTV’s The Challenge returns on April 1 for its 35th season, 28 contestants will compete for the chance to win $1 million. The Challenge: Total Madness will revert to a solo game format and feature 90-minute episodes.

In the teaser released earlier, MTV promised “the most dangerous challenge ever” and host TJ Lavin referred to “the biggest twist we have ever had on The Challenge.” In the newer trailer, it’s revealed: “This season, you’re here to prove that you’re the best,” Lavin says. “I’m done with people skating by. The only way to make it into a final is to win an elimination.”

“The game has changed,” says Tori Deal. “This is the kind of twist that is felt through the entire house.”

MTV is bringing back vets like Wes Bergmann, Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio (who says in the trailer he’s “out for revenge”) andAneesa Ferreira, as well as Brits who have joined the franchise like Kyle Christie, Big T, Melissa Reeves and Jennifer West. Also moving into “a bunker with no windows and no doors” are War of the Worlds 2 winners Dee Nguyen, Rogan O’Connor, CT Tamburello and Jordan Wiseley.

And what’s a season of The Challenge without some rookies? The upcoming turn will feature seven newcomers from reality shows like American Ninja Warrior, Big Brother, Survivor and The Amazing Race.