The Amazing Race Season 33 - What We Know So Far

Two years after filming was complete, season 32 of The Amazing Race finally aired on CBS in the fall of 2020, and due to the ongoing global pandemic, fans could be in for another long wait for season 33. Filming for season 33 of The Amazing Race was underway in February 2020 when the pandemic forced television and film productions across the globe to grind to a halt. Since then, many TV shows and films have found a way to safely resume filming, but due to the unique nature of CBS' globe-trotting reality series, the show is still on hiatus for now.

Each season of The Amazing Race finds teams of two crossing the globe in order to complete challenges and win a $1 million prize. It's an exhilarating series that's as much a travelogue as it is a reality show competition, and watching the teams strive to reach the finish line always makes for exciting TV.

Despite the delay in filming, season 33 is still very much a priority for CBS, according to host Phil Keoghan (via Deadline). And even though the cameras aren't currently rolling on the new season, there's still plenty of scoop to be had about The Amazing Race season 33.

As of writing, The Amazing Race season 33 release date has not yet been announced. Before a release date can be set, the reality series needs to return to production, and that can't happen until the world begins to see a serious drop in COVID-19 cases.

In a July 2020 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Keoghan made it clear that the first priority for CBS is the safety of everyone involved in the production. "People have asked me when we're going to be back shooting Amazing Race," he said. "And all I can say is, 'As soon as that curve goes down.' That line that we see — which is so depressing right now — unfortunately, is an indication of not shooting/shooting. I mean, that's all there is to it."

However, since Keoghan spoke to EW, the global vaccine rollout has begun in earnest, and once it becomes safe to travel again, The Amazing Race could get the greenlight to resume filming. Whether that happens this year or in 2022 remains to be seen, but with health conditions improving, the fan favorite series could potentially return to production in the next few months.

Before filming was halted, season 33 had reportedly shot episodes in England and Scotland, as reported by Variety. At least three episodes were filmed according to Variety's source, but it's unclear whether or not the show will pick up where it left off or be forced to start over with a new cast due to the long delay between seasons.

Since The Amazing Race is a global series, it takes contestants to a variety of far-flung locales each season like Brazil, Germany, and Cambodia. Due to the unique circumstances presented by the current health crisis, some fans have wondered if season 33 could proceed by filming exclusively in the United States or in a country where the pandemic is under control, like New Zealand. However, the show's producers are committed to ensuring international travel remains a key part of the series.

"We haven't spoken about a local version," executive producer Bertram Van Munster told RealityBlurred in December. "I think for now the show will stay international. People love it. You're going to get out of the house, via the couch, with us."

In addition to the first three episodes filming in England and Scotland, we also know who at least two of the teams are. Love Island alums Caroline "Caro" Viehweg and Ray Gantt are reportedly set to appear (although the couple reportedly split up in 2020, so that could get awkward), as are police officers Michael Norwood and Moe Badger, who hail from Buffalo. An Amazing Race spoiler board also reported twins and DJs Marissa & Marianela Gonzalez were spotted filming before production shut down.

According to CinemaBlend, there may also be a critical rule change afoot. Although nothing concrete has been announced, series co-creator Elise Doganieri expressed an interest in restricting the way teams are allowed to interact with each other in the course of the competition. "I'm going to be really honest with you. I think we're going to have to put a rule on that in the future," she said. "We put a lot of work, months and months of research development, scouting, challenge decisions being made. It is a little frustrating to watch when somebody is giving information to another contestant, and the other team is not getting that information." Hopefully we'll have more intel soon about how the rules may be tweaked to address Doganieri's concerns.

CBS has yet to confirm any of the casting news, and there's a real possibility that not all of the teams will be able to return when filming does resume. For now, fans are just going to have to be patient while The Amazing Race production team works toward a safe return to filming. But once filming is underway, you can bet there will be plenty of spoilers for what's ahead in season 33.