Most reality competition players have to make it to the end to get a glimpse of the grand prize. In CBS ‘ new reality competition series The Summit , the prize money is precious cargo on the contestants’ once-in-a-lifetime journey through the treacherous New Zealand Alps. Guiding them through it all is actor Manu Bennett , who serves as host.
Premiering September 29, The Summit follows 16 strangers as they attempt to reach the peak of a distant, towering mountain. With their backpacks containing an equal share of $1 million, the group must traverse an exhausting distance in just 14 days in order to win the cash they are carrying. But not everyone will make it, as these strangers must work together to tackle the dangerous terrain, unforgiving Antarctic winds, heart-pounding challenges, and gut-wrenching eliminations on their way to the peak.
There’s a twist: monitoring their every move is the “Mountain’s Keeper,” who flies around in a helicopter to drop brutal twists and force decisions that complicate the already grueling journey. Morals and relationships will be tested when they must decide what to do if someone falls behind, because if the group fails to reach The Summit in time, all the prize money will be lost. You may recognize The Summit host from his work on film and TV (he had major roles in The Hobbit , Spartacus , and Arrow , but for those who don’t, here’s what you should know about Bennett.
As a native New Zealander, Bennett knows the country’s t.