Entertainment TV Reality TV Joe Manganiello Says Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 Winner Scores 'Most Money Anyone Has Ever Won' on TV (Exclusive) The show's host says in the first trailer for season 2, which premieres Jan. 7, that the new episodes will have the "most dramatic and unpredictable twists" yet By Dana Rose Falcone Dana Rose Falcone Dana Rose Falcone is a Staff Writer covering TV at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE for seven years. Dana Rose's work has previously appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Men's Fitness and Us Weekly. People Editorial Guidelines Published on November 14, 2024 01:00PM EST Comments Don’t expect to see Dr. Will Kirby hustling on Deal or No Deal Island season 2. In the PEOPLE exclusive premiere of the trailer for the new season, the Big Brother winner, 51, makes his return to competition television after 20 years — but his tactics haven’t changed since Kirby made his Big Brother debut in 2001. “I’m the best Big Brother player of all time,” Kirby says in the trailer. “Lie, mislead, that’s my strategy.” 'Deal or No Deal Island' season 2 contestant Dr. Will Kirby. Monty Brinton/NBC Dr. Will Kirby Returns to Reality Competition for Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 — Meet the 14 Contestants And he’ll take his sweet time doing it. “Peasants run, the king doesn’t run,” Kirby later declares. Host Joe Manganiello says in the trailer that Deal or No Deal Island season 2 will have the “most dramatic and unpredictable twists” yet, which includes Australian Survivor winner David Genat competing among the new contestants without anyone knowing his true identity. “I’m not telling anyone that I’m the greatest Australian Survivor player of all time,” Genat, 44, says in the trailer. “I am deep undercover.” 'Deal or No Deal Island' season 2 contestant David Genat. Monty Brinton/NBC While the 13 other competitors might not recognize Genat, many of them clock castmate Parvati Shallow early on as a Survivor winner and competitor from The Traitors season 2. “Parvati gains the trust of men and squeezes them until they die,” Phillip Solomon says. Shallow, 42, admits, “I could be a cult leader if I want to.” 'Deal or No Deal Island' season 2 contestant Parvati Shallow. Monty Brinton/NBC The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! With more than $200 million in prize money hidden around the Banker’s Island — and a new female banker — the 14 contestants will have to find a way to work together to grow the final pot total as large as possible. Manganiello teases in the trailer that Deal or No Deal Island season 2’s winner walks away with “the most money anyone has ever won in the history of television.” 'Deal or No Deal Island' host Joe Manganiello. Patrick Ecclesine/NBC Two contestants seem to be competing for something possibly more valuable than money. “I’m playing Deal or No Deal Island and I’m playing Love Island together,” Maria-Grace Cook says in the trailer, which shows her smooching fellow contestant Storm Wilson. Wilson, 25, tells PEOPLE that “aside from winning millions and millions of dollars,” he saw Deal or No Deal Island as a “dating opportunity.” “I haven't had any luck with my girlfriends in the past, but I did find a cute island girl while out there on Banker's Island,” he says. “It did make the time on the island a bit nicer.” Cook, however, “didn't come into this game looking for a boyfriend,” the 21-year-old tells PEOPLE. “I came in for the money.” 'Deal or No Deal Island' season 2 contestants Maria-Grace Cook and Storm Wilson. Monty Brinton/NBC But Wilson caught her attention during the initial boat ride over to the Banker’s Island. “As soon as we were sat next to each other on the boat, I was like, ‘He's so attractive. I can't get involved with him,’” Cook says. The EMT has no regrets about partnering up with Wilson, though. “We had a good time,” she says. “We had some good little dates and we had a good conversation, so I don't think I would regret anything with him.” Boston Rob Mariano Kept His 'Brutal' Deal or No Deal Island Fate from Wife Amber: 'It Spoils the Fun' (Exclusive) Wilson says he and Cook “dabbled” with trying to keep their romance going beyond the Banker’s Island. “She wants to figure out what she's going to do for work, but we've had discussions of visiting each other from time to time,” he says. Cook adds, “He definitely wants me to come visit Austin, so I think that's going to be in the works.” Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Deal or No Deal Island season 2 premieres with a two-hour episode on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Close