Did Rachel McAdams Audition for Survivor? The Truth Behind Her Viral 'Audition Tape'

Is Rachel McAdams trading movie sets for a deserted island? A surprisingly low-fi 'audition tape' for the CBS reality show 'Survivor' featuring the actress has gone viral, but it's not quite what it seems.

"I Wanna Be the Next Survivor!"

In the video, McAdams appears to make a genuine plea to join the long-running competition series. "I love to read, but I'm crazy about the outdoors, too. I can do bushcrafts with my eyes closed," she says, as the video cuts between her training in a gym, rolling in grass, and climbing trees. The 'Mean Girls' star shows off her supposed survival skills with an endearing awkwardness.

"I work in strategy and planning, so you know I'll always be at least 10 steps ahead," she adds confidently. The video ends with a direct address to host Jeff Probst: "So what do you say, Jeff? Am I Survivor material? I'll give you a little hint: Heck yeah, I am."

A Clever Clue Hidden in Plain Sight

The video seems authentic, save for one tiny detail. As reported by Entertainment Weekly, after the video cuts to black, a nearly illegible copyright notice for 20th Century Studios appears. The video is also hosted on that studio's official YouTube page, despite 20th Century having no involvement with 'Survivor'.

That's because the clip isn't a real audition. It's a cheeky piece of promo for her upcoming horror-thriller movie, 'Send Help'. The film's plot, which involves McAdams' character surviving a plane crash on a deserted island with her younger boss (played by Dylan O'Brien), makes the 'Survivor' connection a clever marketing tie-in.

A Reunion with Director Sam Raimi

'Send Help' reunites McAdams with filmmaker Sam Raimi, who directed her in 2022's 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness'. In an October interview with EW, Raimi described the project as "an underdog tale at its core" and a "story of female empowerment and transformation."

He added, "It's especially rewarding to see our heroine, Linda, come into her own in such an unexpected environment." The movie is scheduled to hit theaters on January 30, 2026.