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Alan Cumming teases that "the stakes will be higher" in the new NBC version of 'The Traitors'

By Sophia Soto | Last updated Aug 18, 2025 1:43 PM ET

Alan Cumming is opening up about how the new NBC edition of The Traitors will be a kind of "reboot," telling PEOPLE that the Peacock competition series, which includes celebrities, is "on this trajectory of theatricality and madness."

Meanwhile, the civilian version will have the show "calming down a little bit and starting again, which is exciting." The host added, "What I'm really looking forward to is the fact that there will be more at stake for people."

The reality stars who go on "are very, very wealthy" and participate for "other reasons," but the prize pot "will make more of a difference in people's lives" for the new everyday competitors, which is why "the stakes will be higher."

Production is currently scheduled for next year at the same castle in the Scottish Highlands, but a premiere date is unknown.

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"We won't go in with preconceptions of the cast because we don't know them, and I think that will be fascinating," he explained. "There will be more of a slow burn getting to know people." The first season of the U.S. version actually did include 10 celebrities along with 10 civilians participating.

The fourth season of Peacock's The Traitors will be released in 2026 with the following celebrities: Candiace Dillard Bassett (The Real Housewives of Potomac), Caroline Stanbury (The Real Housewives of Dubai), Colton Underwood (The Bachelor), Donna Kelce (“Mama” Kelce), Dorinda Medley (The Real Housewives of New York City), Eric Nam (Singer-Songwriter), Ian Terry (Big Brother), Johnny Weir (Olympic Figure Skater), Kristen Kish (Host, Top Chef), Rob Cesternino (Survivor), Lisa Rinna (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), Mark Ballas (Dancing with the Stars), Maura Higgins (Love Island USA Aftersun), Michael Rapaport (Actor), Monét X Change (RuPaul's Drag Race), Natalie Anderson (Survivor), Porsha Williams (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), Rob Rausch (Love Island USA), Ron Funches (Comedian), Stephen Colletti (One Tree Hill), Tara Lipinski (Olympic Figure Skater), Tiffany Mitchell (Big Brother), and Yamil “Yam Yam” Arocho (Survivor).

It has also been renewed for a fifth season.

Sophia Soto

Sophia Soto is a writer and interviewer with a passion for all things entertainment. She is a Senior Reporter at The Nerds of Color and contributes to Yardbarker, Screensphere, Den of Geek, What to Watch, Nerdtropolis, and Temple of Geek. You can see her past work on Remezcla, Young Hollywood, Looper, Paste Magazine, Primetimer, Soundsphere, and Starry Constellation Magazine

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