"THE CHALLENGE: INVASION" IS BACK WITH A TWO-HOUR PREMIERE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 AT 9:00 PM ET/PT WITH UNEXPECTED DRAMA, SURPRISING HOOK-UPS AND UNFORESEEN RETURNS

New "Invasion" Twist Forces Hopeful Underdogs To Get Down And Dirty As Superstar Challenge Champions Invade The Game Without Warning

HOLLYWOOD, CA - January 11, 2017 - MTV today announced the return of its hit series "The Challenge" with "The Challenge: Invasion," a new twist on the cutthroat competition format in which eighteen series Underdogs seeking their first victory will be pitted against one another to crown a new champion... only to come under a surprise, season-long attack from eight of the most fearsome Challenge Champions in the show's history. Filmed entirely on location in Thailand, "The Challenge: Invasion" debuts Tuesday, February 7 with a two-hour premiere at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Before they get the news that they must face off against the Champions, The Underdogs first shock comes with the revelation that they must compete against one another to earn their way out of the desolate, barebones accommodations known as "The Shelter." Only after they battle their way out of The Shelter, will they be allowed to move into a posh estate called "The Oasis." As these Underdogs fight and claw their way through the game, the very best will rise to the top and only twelve worthy Underdogs will earn their spot in The Oasis, where they will live in the lap of luxury. Their relief is ultimately short-lived as past Challenge winners make their way to The Oasis to shake things up.

The most decorated champ in Challenge history and last season's winner, Johnny "Bananas," returns after executing one of the most cunning and controversial moves in Challenge history; reformed Boston bad boy CT makes a triumphant return after a three-year absence with a new outlook on life; rebel Cara Maria is back and more fired up than ever after taking a well-deserved break following her "Battle of the Bloodlines" win and despite this being his fifth time on The Challenge, Shane has yet to earn his stripes as a Champion. Now he's back and ready to fight for the ultimate prize as an Underdog.

With $350,000 on the line, only the very best players will survive a brutal and cutthroat game. Epic challenges and stunning eliminations will push players to their breaking points. Friendships will be tested and tense new rivalries will form. Off the playing field, love is in the air with shocking romances and scandalous hook-ups. Not everyone will make it to the end, but for those who do, they will fight to win in the very first three-day final challenge to see who is truly worthy of being called a Champion.

Meet the rest of the cast of "The Challenge: Invasion":

Champs

Ashley K,- Los Angeles, CA Insta: ashleymariekellsey Twitter: @AshleyMarieMTV

Johnny "Bananas"- Fullerton, CA, Insta: realjohnnybananas Twitter: @MTVBananas

Camila - Austin, TX Insta: camilamtv Twitter: @CamilaMTV

Cara Maria - Bozeman, MT, Insta: misscaramaria Twitter: @CaraMariaMTV

CT - Boston, MA, Insta: _famous4nothing Twitter: @TheOfficial_CT

Darrell - Elk Grove, CA Insta: lb4lb_fitness Twitter: @mtvrrdarrell

Laurel - Livingston, MT Twitter: @laurelstucky

Zach - Brighton, MA Insta: zachnichols15 Twitter: @ZNichols15

Underdogs

Amanda - Denver, CO Insta: mtv_amanda Twitter: @MTV_AMANDAG

Anika - NYC, NY, Insta: nikarashaun Twitter: @NikaRashaun

Anthony - Chicago, IL, Insta: a_bartolotte Twitter: @A_Bartolotte

Ashley - Las Vegas, NV Insta: mtvashleybrooke Twitter: @MTVASHLEYBROOKE

Bruno - Providence, RI, Insta: brunogbettencourt Twitter: @BrunoGeeB

Cory - Santa Monica, CA, Insta: corywharton_ig Twitter: @MTVCoryWharton

Dario - Los Angeles, CA, Insta: dario.medrano Twitter: @Dario_medrano_

Hunter - Anderson, AL Insta: mtvhunter Twitter: @hbarfield13

Jenna - Long Island, NY, Insta: jennacompono Twitter: @JennaCompono

Kailah - West Palm Beach, FL - Insta: kailah_casillas Twitter: @kailah_casillas

LaToya - Raleigh, NC Insta: teatimewithtoya Twitter: @TeaTimeWithToya

Marie - Staten Island, NY Insta: mar8e Twitter: @MARIER0DA

Nelson - Austin, TX Insta: mtv_nellyt Twitter: @MTV_NellyT

Nicole - Staten Island, NY, Insta: n_zanattamtv Twitter: @n_zanattaMTV

Shane - Charleston, SC, Insta: shannanity Twitter: @shannanity

Sylvia - Kansas City, MO Insta: syl_marie_88 Twitter: @SylviaMTV

Theo - Kankakee, IL Insta: iamtheophi Twitter: @iamtheophi

Tony - Baton Rouge, LA Insta: t_raines Twitter: @t_raines33

"The Challenge: Invasion" was created for MTV by Bunim/Murray Productions. Jonathan Murray, Gil Goldschein, Scott Freeman, Lisa Fletcher and Fred Birckhead serve as Executive Producers.

Join in "The Challenge: Invasion" social conversation on Twitter and Instagram with the official hashtag #TheChallengeInvasion; and be sure to follow the show's Facebook page account: Facebook.com/mtvthechallenge

Fans can also compete in The Challenge: Fantasy League like your favorite Champions and Underdogs! Every week, you'll be choosing a team consisting of two Challengers and various action categories (competition, drama and romance) will determine your points. If they get in a heated fight, you'll win big - but if it get too hot, a DQ could be serious trouble. Open mouth kiss? SCORE! Joining an alliance? JACKPOT!! Sign up now and tune in to The Challenge: Invasion weekly to see how your team performs. Oh, and don't forget - the grand prize winner will be heading to the 2017 VMA's!

# # #

About MTV:

MTV is a global youth culture brand inspired by music. MTV is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA).

About Bunim/Murray Productions:

Bunim/Murray Productions (BMP) is the leading producer of innovative entertainment content. The Emmy Award-winning company is widely credited with creating the reality television genre with its hit series The Real World (32 seasons on MTV). BMP continued to innovate with the first reality game show, Road Rules (MTV), in 1995; the first reality sitcom, The Simple Life (E!), in 2003; and the first reality soap opera, Starting Over, in 2003. BMP's current programming includes Mariah's World, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Rob & Chyna, Total Divas, Total Bellas and So Cosmo (E!), The Real World and The Challenge (MTV), Project Runway and Project Runway All Stars (Lifetime), Valerie's Home Cooking (Food Network), Born This Way (A&E), The Gary Owen Show (BET), Earth Live (National Geographic), Bill Nye Saves the World (Netflix), The Selection: Special Operations Experiment (History) and Chachi's World (go90). BMP has also produced films, including They Call Us Monsters, Valentine Road (HBO), Pedro (MTV) and the Emmy Award-winning Autism: The Musical (HBO). BMP has launched additional entities including BMP Films, BMP Digital and BMP Latin. Based in Glendale, CA, the company was founded in 1987 by Jonathan Murray and the late Mary-Ellis Bunim, who were inducted into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame in 2012. The company joined Banijay Group in 2010.