It’s officially “ The Challenge ” season. Season 40, dubbed “Battle of the Eras,” marks a historical moment as the first-ever season of the MTV hit featuring an all-returning cast. Premiering on MTV Wednesday, August 14, this installment promises to be the most intense — and emotionally charged — yet.

For those who have been loyal viewers since the very beginning — “The Challenge” initially launched as “Road Rules: All Stars” in 1998 before transitioning to “Real World/Road Rules Challenge” the following year — it’s been an extraordinary journey.

“I’m excited to see people like CT, Johnny Bananas and Mark Long . I’m old school,” says Jon Murray , founder and executive consultant of Bunim-Murray Productions. “You’ve seen how CT has emerged and how he went from being this, sort of, tough guy who could trigger at a moment’s notice to someone who is sometimes the calmest guy in the room. It’s great to be able to tell those long, evolving stories.”

Julie Pizzi , who has worked on “The Challenge” since 2000 and now serves as the president of BMP and 51 Minds Entertainment, recalls looking around on set of Season 40 in Vietnam and noticing, “There was such a sense of something bigger, which doesn’t always happen on a show. So it made it really, really unique.”

Below, Murray and Pizzi share insights with Variety on how the game — and the casting process — have evolved, the current landscape of competitive reality TV, other Bunim-Murray Productions shows that fans are eagerly awaiting, and much more.

Jon, starting with you. Did you ever, when you created “The Real World” in 1992, think that we’d still be here talking about a spinoff that came from that idea?

Jon Murray: We had no idea the show would be around for a week, let alone years! Before “The Real World” premiered, we had spent five years making pilots, none of which got picked up. It was so exciting to finally have something on air, and it immediately resonated with the MTV audience. The first episode of “The Real World”, MTV usually had a .3 rating in the demo. At 10 o’clock, the episode went to a .9, tripling their numbers. By Season 4 with Miami, the rating had climbed to 4.5, which was incredible. From the very start, making the show was a joy. It truly did something that television hadn’t done before — bringing together people from different backgrounds. Not only was it great entertainment, but you grow and learn alongside the cast.

Julie Pizzi: When we all arrived on set, even the cast was feeling sentimental. There were certain people who were like, “There’s no way I would miss this. I will do whatever it takes to be here.” It was truly special. Some of the people from the very first season were present. Looking around at all the people who have been part of the crew and cast of this franchise for decades was pretty remarkable. It truly was a team effort. I think there was a sense of something bigger, which isn’t always present on a show. So it made it truly unique.

The kickoff special featured so many flashbacks to iconic moments through the last 39 seasons. Will that continue throughout the season to bring that nostalgic element to the forefront?

Pizzi: Yes, we essentially digitized all the episodes and sifted through all the footage we had over the 39 seasons. We looked a bit at the success of “All Stars,” because “All Stars” really taps into that nostalgia, and we often use throw-back clips. We realized how much the audience loves it, so we had an opportunity and a reason to do it in this season.

I remember when “All Stars” launched, some of the older cast members thought that the daily challenges would be easier than they were. What’s the difficulty level here — because you do have a wide age range of competitors?

Pizzi: When we developed the creative around “All Stars,” it was a bit more fun, a bit more comedic. So those games are very different, but we did maintain “The Challenge” franchise integrity in terms of difficulty. They truly are doing stunts. We have an amazing stunt team from all over the world who participate in the show every year. And even though Mark Long is over 50, he still participated in that level of stunts that is expected from “The Challenge.” The main show is hardcore and [producer] Justin Booth wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s intense!

Jon, who were you most excited to see back?

Murray: I’m excited to see people like CT, Johnny Bananas and Mark Long. I’m old school. I go back to those folks who were originally on “The Real World/Road Rules Challenge,” when that’s what it was called, the people who we’ve watched grow and mature. Most of them have become really great people. You’ve seen how CT has transformed and how he went from being this, sort of, tough guy who could snap at a moment’s notice to someone who is sometimes the calmest person in the room. It’s great to be able to tell those long, evolving stories.

Who was the toughest to get back?

Pizzi: Rachel Robinson was tough to get back because she has a whole business and she has three children. We really wanted her to participate, because she’s such a strong female competitor, and probably stronger today than she was in her 20s. I think she probably saw this as a personal challenge, but we were thrilled when she was able to find the time to join us.

We’ve had teams of two but this is the first time we’ve seen big teams since “War of the Worlds 2.” Can you say if there’s one winner, a team winner, etc. on “Eras”?

Pizzi: I don’t think I can tell you!

I love the idea of “Eras,” but I still am missing themes like “Exes” and “Rivals.” What is your favorite theme?

Murray: I’ve always been a big fan of “Battle of the Sexes.” I was captivated by both of those early iterations. The concept taps into a theme that remains highly relevant in today’s conversations about the roles of men and women, and what they excel at. There’s nothing more thrilling than watching two women outmaneuver two guys. It’s undeniably entertaining. I adore that format, and I also enjoy seeing a group of people collaborate as a team. It’s fascinating to observe who emerges as the leader, how they bring in the unconventional outlier, and how they strategize collectively. I think it’s always an engaging element. It was a straightforward concept in the beginning because it was “Real World” versus “Road Rules.” But the team dynamic is a fun aspect to play with. Often, it has to evolve into something else, but it’s always exciting to begin with that foundation.

Pizzi: I genuinely enjoyed “Battle of the Seasons.” It would likely resonate more [now] with “All Stars” because it mainly features “Real World” and “Road Rules” cast members, but the fact that you have individuals with real history, who were on one show together and know each other so deeply, and seeing them complete the challenge. It was one of my favorite seasons, but it was very early on.

You guys shot this in Vietnam. What was that like?

Pizzi: The weather was incredibly hot, with frequent rain. Since we filmed in winter, we could shoot a lot of outdoor scenes. The sun didn't set until 9 pm, allowing us ample time for gameplay.

Some of the cast has spoken out about the living conditions being very difficult. What can you say about that?

Pizzi: We strive to create fantastical settings for our cast. We've filmed in castles, bunkers, and locations requiring us to bring in portable bathrooms due to inadequate plumbing. We've also had to use generators. Our goal is to find places with a fantastical feel. This year in Vietnam, we were in a magnificent castle that required us to bring in bathrooms, which admittedly weren't as convenient as hotel bathrooms. But we always do our best. We often source locally, using local caterers. It takes some adjustment to people's palates. Our priority is to take excellent care of our cast. We have a dedicated talent team focused on providing them with necessities like aspirin, ice packs, and additional cutlery. We go the extra mile to keep our cast happy, and I'm confident most would agree.

The industry and landscape has changed quite a bit over the 26 years that “The Challenge” has been on the air. How has what you’re looking for changed?

Murray: We used to occasionally feature someone because viewers wanted to see them. However, unless they possess a strong competitive spirit, I believe they can't survive at this level. From the start, we needed someone with a distinct, dynamic personality — someone unfiltered, unafraid to be themselves, comfortable in their own skin, yet open to others and eager to learn. And crucially, someone fiercely competitive — not just on the field, but also in terms of, “I'm going to be here until the end, and I'm going to figure out how this group operates. I'm going to secure allies and ensure I'm with the group that makes it to the end.” We need strategists who can clearly articulate their strategy in interviews.

Pizzi: Many of these contestants reach out to us because they may have appeared on “Love Island,” but they’re actually highly competitive individuals who desire to compete on “The Challenge.” Sometimes this side of them isn’t as evident on their other shows, but they come to us seeking this challenge.

Jon, are you still getting new ideas for shows? How often are you calling up Julie and saying, “Hey, what about this?”

Murray: Our latest idea was “Never Met,” which airs on OWN and Max. I love shows that arise from real-life situations. Especially during the pandemic, people were connecting online but hadn’t met in person. I thought, wouldn’t it be fascinating to witness their first physical encounter? And then we considered, what if they meet, but they’re surrounded by six or seven other couples also meeting for the first time? Then it evolves into a bit of a “Temptation Island.” That was my last contribution to a show development. If another real-life scenario arises, I’ll collaborate with Julie and the BMP team to help bring it to life on screen.

Pizzi: We always joke because whenever Jon has an idea, he’ll say, “What about this?” And then we pitch it. Every single show! Not only did “Never Met” air on OWN, but it performed so well that they commissioned a Season 2 before the finale even aired.

Jon, you created one of the very first reality shows and now competition shows are more popular than ever, the latest being “The Traitors,” which CT and Trishelle won last year. Have you watched?

Murray: I always try to check out the first episode of any new show to get a feel for it and see how it's evolving the genre. I'm a big fan of Alan Cumming. I think he's a fantastic host. That's probably what excites me most about the show. It's funny to watch some of these shows and realize, 'Hey, we did that challenge. We did that 20 years ago.'

Pizzi: Creators of those shows often tell us they use a lot of our challenges as inspiration. I think because “The Challenge” has been around for so long and we do a different game each year, there's a lot to learn from it. It's like we're reinventing our own genre every season, and I think that's great. A rising tide lifts all boats. When these shows do well, are creative, and people are talking about them, it only fuels the competition genre. We feel fortunate to have produced so many seasons of this franchise, and we want it to continue forever.

Well, speaking of this growing franchise, there were talks of “Road Rules” coming back in 2021. What’s the status there?

Pizzi: We would always love to bring back “Road Rules.” MTV owns the rights, and they've really focused on expanding the “The Challenge” brand. We've created so many different versions of “The Challenge,” so I think, in terms of saturating the market and making sure there's a place for all the shows they've supported, it's not impossible. It's not something we're discussing right now, but it's always in the back of our minds. We think it will return someday, but there are no plans currently.

We had two seasons of “The Challenge: USA.” Will there be more of that?

Pizzi: I can't imagine it won't continue. We're not filming it right now, but we believe it's a strong franchise and performed well. I think everyone enjoyed it. So hopefully, we'll get a renewal for that as well.

What is the status of “The Real World: Homecoming,” which has disappeared from Paramount+? Will there be more?

Pizzi: I certainly hope so. We're not shooting any episodes at the moment, but it's always a topic of conversation. MTV has been incredibly supportive. It aired on Paramount+, and I think, obviously, there's a lot going on in the industry right now. But it's a show we really enjoyed making, and Jon was heavily involved in that series.

Murray: It’s one of those projects where you truly need everyone on the cast to be on board. We have some dream locations, like San Francisco, but there are certain boundaries people aren’t willing to cross, making it extremely challenging to get everyone together.

We know “Vanderpump Villa” is coming back for a second season and Stassi Schroeder has joined . How did that come about?

Pizzi: She has a very long and close relationship with Lisa Vanderpump. They’ve been friends for years, and I believe Stassi was going to be there while we were filming, so it felt like all the pieces fell into place.

The flagship only airs on MTV but doesn’t have a streaming partner right now. Is there any movement there?

Pizzi: Paramount guides us on where we’re producing for, so it’s not something we have a significant role in deciding. But we have complete faith in their marketing strategy. They’ve been very strategic in how they position “The Challenge” across different platforms, and it’s truly benefited the show.

Lastly, how do you top “Battle of the Eras”? Is that a conversation you’re already having?

Pizzi: We are discussing the future and have some exciting ideas. We need to keep pushing the boundaries and engaging our viewers. We have a secret project in the works with MTV. I'm confident there's something to look forward to, but for now, let's savor the deliciousness of Season 40.