THE PURSUIT TO CROWN THE ULTIMATE HERO BEGINS THURSDAY, JULY 31 ON ABC'S NEW REALITY BASED COMPETITION SERIES, "THE QUEST"

In a thrilling race against time, fantasy, reality and scripted drama will collide as good vs. evil on "The Quest, a new reality based competition series unlike anything else on television. The show premieres THURSDAY, JULY 31 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET/PT) on the ABC Television Network, taking 12 unsuspecting contestants to an imaginative realm, where ogres run free in the forest, dragons stir, agents of a dark lord infiltrate the keep, and the only thing standing between peace and chaos are one dozen very unlikely heroes. "The Quest" will be a fully immersive experience. In and around this castle, the fantasy realm will come to life with state-of-the art projections, animatronics, prosthetics and art direction. The narrative and mythology of "The Quest" is deep and fully imagined, and it has been designed to incorporate seamlessly with the unexpected actions and decisions of the contestants - fantasy comes alive as it never has before in this genre-bending series from the Executive Producer of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and the Executive Producers of "The Amazing Race."

The 12 contestants who will rely on physical stamina, intelligence and resourcefulness to emerge as the one true hero are:

Shondo Blades (30, MMA Fighter from Houston, TX) Shondo attributes his southern hospitality to his hometown of Houston, TX. The professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter is dedicated to mastering his craft but don't be fooled by his tough exterior because he is a softy when it comes to "The Lion King."

Lina Carollo (27, School Counselor from Delran, NJ) Her strict upbringing has made Lina a strong and independent woman. She grew up playing Street Fighter with her three older brothers and it wasn't long before she was beating all of them. The school counselor has aspirations of becoming a child psychologist and also enjoys helping to run her family's restaurant.

Jim Curry (22, Student from Little Rock, AR) Jim grew up in the wilderness with his park ranger father. He is a member of a Hogwarts virtual choir and is also a member of the University of Arkansas Quidditch team.

Andrew Frazer (25, Personal Trainer from West Hartford, CT) One of Andrew's greatest joys are working with kids relating to their vivid imaginations. Halloween is his favorite holiday and he enjoys the opportunity to dress as his favorite video game characters.

Bonnie Gordon (28, Property Manager from Lafayette, LA) Overcoming a major obstacle at an early age, Bonnie taught herself to walk straight after being born with her legs twisted. She is primed for an adventure having spent two months traveling with gypsies having to leave her home after Hurricane Katrina.

Ashley Guerrero (35, Horse Trainer from Murrieta, CA) Skilled in trick riding, archery and boxing, Ashley has been training for an adventure her entire life. From using her riding skills as a trail guide to exploring her competitive spirit when she hosts game nights with her friends, Ashley is ready to take on her fellow contestants.

Patrick Higgins (40, High School Math Teacher from Joliet, IL) ) Although his wife does not share the same enthusiasm, the Star Wars fanatic convinced her to walk through light sabers to the movie's theme song at their wedding. Patrick always strives to make a difference and considers his role as a teacher life's greatest reward.

Jasmine Kyle (31, Mother and Homemaker from Media, PA) Jasmine met her knight in shining armor at a Renaissance Fair. Obsessed with Tolkien growing up, the self-proclaimed horse geek writes her own "Lord of the Rings" fanfiction.

Adria Kyne (41, Marketing Director from Nashua, NH) Adria plans to use her life experience to outwit her competitors. The mother of a young son, she adapts well to new situations and has lived in numerous locations internationally. Always a child at heart, she has a passion for video games and feels that she is never too old to play.

Leticia Reyes (36, Executive Assistant from White Plains, NY) Leticia not only has the brains with a degree in business management information systems, but she also has a green belt in judo. Driven by her regret for not standing up for herself or others in the past, she is determined to emerge the hero.

Katherine "Katie" Smaluk (26, Bartender from Chicago, IL) The twin developed her own language with her sister as a young child enjoying their secret code. While she shares a bond with her sister, she is also fiercely competitive and a self-proclaimed hustler when it comes to pool and cards.

Christian Sochor (23, Server from New York, NY) The young New Yorker was drawn to comic book heroes at an early age. A skilled and imaginative competitor who has showcased his sword fighting talents in the New York Renaissance fairs, Christian has even created his own themed parties to watch the "Lord of the Rings."

"The Quest" was filmed on location in Austria and is executive produced by Bertram van Munster, Elise Doganieri, Mark Ordesky, Jane Fleming, Rob Eric and Michael Williams.

For more information on "The Quest," visit ABC.com.