14 Big Brother 28 Cast Members Revealed Before Premiere

Big Brother Season 28 has unveiled 14 houseguests, but CBS is still holding back part of the cast. Two surprise players have yet to be revealed, adding another layer of uncertainty before the 90-minute premiere on Thursday, July 9. The new lineup ranges from an MMA fighter and rocket scientist to a Drag Race All Star, all competing for a $750,000 prize.

What We Know So Far

CBS revealed the players during its first live-streamed cast announcement, branded the Big Brother: Broveal and hosted by Julie Chen Moonves. The confirmed cast is Ashley Trail, Barrett Pfeiffer, Chuk Anyanwu, Drew Campbell, Haley Thogmartin, Jason De Puy, Kamuela 'Kamu' Kirk, LaTrice Verrett, Lyric Medeiros, Mallory Aurichio, Melody Morris, Rome Seymour, Taylor Brown and Yash Patel.

The occupational mix appears designed to put people with sharply different life experiences into the same pressure-cooker game. Trail is a bartender, Pfeiffer a jumbotron engineer, Anyanwu a supply chain analyst and Campbell a surgical dental assistant. The lineup also includes telemedicine executive Thogmartin, attorney Medeiros, corporate game show host Morris, pickleball coach Seymour, elementary school counselor Brown and financial analyst Patel.

Several players arrive with backgrounds likely to draw immediate viewer attention. De Puy is the drag performer known as Salina EsTitties from RuPaul's Drag Race. Kirk is an MMA fighter from Phoenix, while 24-year-old Mallory Aurichio works as a rocket scientist. KOMO also reported that Medeiros appeared on Season 21 of American Idol.

The season is built around a 'Time Trip' theme, with the past, present and future colliding throughout the house and game. Rooms include references to different eras, including the 1980s and Y2K. Chen Moonves said the concept could bring back old competitions with new twists, directly connecting the house design to how contestants may be tested.

Reactions & Responses

The biggest unanswered question is who will join the 14 announced players. Variety reported that two surprise contestants remain unrevealed, while Gold Derby said additional players will be introduced on air. That means viewers do not yet have the complete competitive picture.

Controversial people will be factored.

Chen Moonves gave that teaser while discussing the premiere with Parade. She did not identify the people involved or confirm whether they will become full-time contestants, leaving the exact nature of the surprise undisclosed. Her comments do confirm that the opening episode contains another element beyond the 14-player announcement.

On the Ground

For US viewers, Season 28 arrives with a broader way to follow the game. The premiere airs Thursday, July 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, followed by Big Brother: Unlocked on Friday, July 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

The live feeds begin Friday at 9 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. PT. Full feeds will be carried on Paramount+ and Pluto, while YouTube will offer access only for limited periods following episodes. Paramount has not disclosed how long those YouTube windows will remain open.

The schedule is also expanding. Wednesday episodes will run 90 minutes, Unlocked will air on Fridays, and CBS says the season will deliver the most original programming hours since the series debuted in 2000. Later this summer, the show is also expected to reach its 1,000th original episode.

Coming Up

The first confirmed milestone is the 90-minute premiere on July 9, when the unrevealed players and the host's teased 'controversial people' element may become clearer. Unlocked follows on July 10, then the live feeds begin one hour later. A special 90-minute Big Brother episode airs Sunday, July 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT to close the premiere week.

The complete cast structure remains the biggest confirmed question going into opening night. CBS has introduced 14 people, but multiple reports based on the reveal say additional surprise players are still coming.

At a Glance

• 14 houseguests have been publicly revealed for Big Brother Season 28.
• Two surprise players have yet to be identified.
• The winner is competing for a $750,000 cash prize.
• The 90-minute premiere airs July 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
• Live feeds start July 10 on Paramount+, Pluto and, for limited periods, YouTube.
• The season uses a 'Time Trip' theme tied to different eras and possible returning competitions.