The special forces season 5 cast has been officially revealed, with FOX bringing together 15 celebrities from sports, entertainment, reality television, and social media for the latest installment of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. Season 5 premiered on September 24, 2026, featuring a new group of recruits who are taking on demanding military-style challenges in Malaysia.
The fifth season continues FOX’s reality format where celebrities leave behind their usual public images and face intense physical and mental tests inspired by real-world special forces training. The new recruits are guided by a team of former special forces operatives known as the Directing Staff.
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test Season 5 Cast Overview
FOX announced a 15-member celebrity lineup for Season 5. The cast includes actors, athletes, influencers, reality personalities, and a former member of Congress.
| Celebrity | Known For |
|---|---|
| Matt Barnes | Former NBA player and sports personality |
| Alycia Baumgardner | Professional boxer |
| Candace Cameron Bure | Actress known for Full House and Fuller House |
| David Charvet | Actor and television personality |
| Brandi Glanville | Reality television personality |
| Collin Gosselin | Former reality TV personality from Jon & Kate Plus 8 |
| Oliver Hudson | Actor known for television and film roles |
| LeSean McCoy | Former NFL running back |
| Maxim Naumov | Figure skater |
| Ruby Rose | Actress and television personality |
| George Santos | Former U.S. representative |
| Hannah Stocking | Social media personality and comedian |
| Bre Tiesi | Model and reality TV personality |
| Alexia Umansky | Reality TV personality |
| Mauricio Umansky | Real estate personality and television figure |
Candace Cameron Bure Joins the Season 5 Challenge
Candace Cameron Bure is one of the most recognizable names in the new lineup. The actress became widely known for playing D.J. Tanner on Full House and later appearing in Fuller House.
Her participation marks another major reality television appearance after previous competition shows. Bure has explained that she was interested in the unique nature of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test because the series focuses on endurance, personal challenges, and pushing limits rather than traditional celebrity competition.
Oliver Hudson Returns to the Spotlight
Actor Oliver Hudson is another notable member of the Season 5 lineup. Hudson has appeared in several television projects, including Rules of Engagement and Scream Queens.
His appearance gives viewers a chance to see him outside scripted entertainment. Like the other recruits, Hudson faces physical tasks designed to test confidence, resilience, and the ability to handle stressful situations.
David Charvet Makes Television Return
David Charvet joined the cast after a long break from regular television appearances. The actor became famous through roles in popular shows such as Baywatch and Melrose Place.
Charvet said his decision to join the series was connected to the personal challenge of testing himself in a completely different environment. The season gave him an opportunity to step away from traditional entertainment and participate in a demanding physical experience.
Sports Stars Enter the Competition
Season 5 features several athletes who bring professional sports backgrounds into the demanding environment.
Matt Barnes, a former NBA player, joins the cast after years of professional basketball experience. LeSean McCoy, a former NFL running back and Super Bowl champion, also enters the competition.
Professional boxer Alycia Baumgardner adds another athletic background to the group. Her career in combat sports makes her one of the recruits with experience in high-pressure physical competition.
Figure skater Maxim Naumov also joins the season, bringing a background in Olympic-level figure skating.
Reality Television and Social Media Stars in Season 5
The new cast also includes several personalities who are already familiar to reality TV audiences.
Brandi Glanville, known for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, joins the recruits for the military-style challenge. Bre Tiesi, recognized from Selling Sunset, is also part of the lineup.
Mauricio Umansky and his daughter Alexia Umansky represent a family connection within the cast. Both have appeared in reality television projects connected to the Umansky family.
Hannah Stocking joins the season as a creator and comedian with a large social media following.
Collin Gosselin Joins After Years Away From Reality TV
Collin Gosselin, known from Jon & Kate Plus 8, returns to reality television as part of Season 5.
His appearance comes years after his childhood television experience. The show presents a different environment from traditional reality programming because contestants are tested through difficult exercises rather than filmed through everyday family situations.
Ruby Rose Takes on the Military-Style Challenge
Australian actress Ruby Rose is also among the Season 5 recruits. She became widely recognized through roles in projects including Orange Is the New Black and Batwoman.
Her participation adds another entertainment industry name to the lineup. The season places celebrities from different backgrounds into the same environment, where they must work through physically and mentally demanding tasks.
George Santos Joins the Celebrity Recruit Lineup
Former U.S. representative George Santos is part of the Season 5 cast. His appearance brings a political figure into the mix alongside actors, athletes, and reality personalities.
Santos joins the program as one of the recruits facing the same physical and mental challenges as the rest of the cast.
Who Leads the Special Forces Season 5 Training?
The recruits are trained and evaluated by the Directing Staff team, which includes former special forces operatives Rudy Reyes, Mark “Billy” Billingham, Jason “Foxy” Fox, and Jovon “Q” Quarles.
The team has appeared throughout the series, overseeing challenges designed to simulate elements of military selection programs.
Season 5 Challenges and Filming Location
For Season 5, the celebrities travel to Malaysia, where they face jungle-based challenges designed around extreme environments.
The recruits encounter difficult tasks involving survival skills, teamwork, endurance, and mental pressure. Challenges include underground bunker exercises, high-altitude supply retrieval, and chemical exposure simulations.
Unlike many reality competition shows, Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test does not rely on audience voting or traditional eliminations. Participants leave when they withdraw, fail, or cannot continue.
Special Forces Season 5 Premiere Details
Season 5 premiered Thursday, September 24, 2026, on FOX. New episodes are also available for streaming the following day on Hulu.
The latest season continues the series’ focus on celebrity endurance by placing well-known personalities into situations far removed from their normal careers.
With a cast featuring actors, athletes, reality stars, and public figures, Season 5 brings together one of the most diverse groups in the show’s history.
The new recruits are now putting their strength, teamwork, and determination to the test, and fans can follow their journey as the season reveals who can withstand the ultimate challenge.