Most reality competition contestants have to make it to the end to get a glimpse of the grand prize. In CBS’ new reality competition series The summitThe prize money is a valuable cargo for the participants on their unique journey through the dangerous New Zealand Alps. The actor Manu Bennett accompanies them as presenter.
Premiere on 29 September The summit follows 16 strangers attempting to reach the summit of a distant, towering mountain. With their backpacks each containing an equal share of $1 million, the group must trek a grueling distance in just 14 days to win the money they carry. But not everyone will make it, as these strangers must work together to overcome the dangerous terrain, relentless Antarctic winds, heart-wrenching challenges, and nerve-wracking eliminations on their way to the summit.
There is a twist: The “Guardian of the Mountain” monitors their every move, flying around in a helicopter to make brutal turns and force decisions that complicate the already grueling journey. Morals and relationships are tested when deciding what to do if someone falls behind, because if the group doesn’t make it, The summit over time, all prize money will be lost.
You may recognize The summit Moderator from his work in film and television (he had major roles in The Hobbit, SpartacusAnd Arrow, But for those who don’t know, here’s what you should know about Bennett.
1. He played the main villain in The Hobbit trilogy
As a native New Zealander, Bennett knows the country’s terrain well. He got to know it even better when he worked in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit Trilogy. See him behind the scenes of one of the most exciting fight sequences in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies above. Jackson called him the shooting star of the three films.
2. He played a fan-favorite character in Spartacus
Matt Klitscher / Starz / Everett Collection
A fan-favorite character on the Starz series, Crixus was a former champion of Capua and was introduced into the story as a slave who wanted to become a gladiator. He succeeded and fought his way up to become one of Ludus’ top gladiators. One of his co-stars was Cynthia Addai-Robinson (pictured above, with Bennett), who is now starring in the latest Tolkien adaptation, Prime Video’s. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
3. He played Slade Wilson/Deathstroke in Arrow
Bennett’s Slade Wilson began as a mentor and friend to Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) in The CW’s superhero series, but developed into Oliver’s arch-enemy as Deathstroke. He was most recently seen in leading roles in Perfect addiction and the Maori crime drama Muru.
4. Bennett has famous parents
Bennett is of Maori, Scottish, English, French and Finnish ancestry and was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1969. His father, Charles Edward Tiwha (Ted) Bennett, was a popular singer in New Zealand who had a number one hit with the song “Clap Your Hands” and other hits in the 1960s.
His mother was Jean Clark, an Australian model who modeled the first ever two-piece bikini, designed by Paula Strafford, who is credited with introducing the bikini to Australia.
5. He is a talented rugby player and dancer
Bennett is a trained actor, dancer, musician and rugby player. He was selected to play for the NSW Schoolboys Rugby Union team in Australia and was also invited to try out for the Australian national team, but a lead role in a production of the ballet Swan Lake were in conflict.
In the 1990s, he had the choice of accepting a ballet scholarship in New York or an acting scholarship at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in Los Angeles. He chose the latter.
The summitSeries premiere, Wednesday, September 29, 8:30/7:30c, CBS
