Warning: SPOILERS for Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 Episode 5Deal or No Deal Island season 2 episode 5 saw some of its contestants making big moves, and host Joe Manganiello sat down with ScreenRant to discuss them. The latest episode of the series once again pitted its contestants against one another in a surprising social game, taking more cues from shows like Survivor than the original, and straightforward, Deal or No Deal. Thanks to a surprising move from Dickson and a big win for Dr. Will, big things are in store for the next episode.

Since the show began in 2024, Deal or No Deal Island has been hosted by versatile actor Joe Manganiello. Before ing the series, Manganiello accumulated an impressive list of high-profile projects, having appeared in projects including Magic Mike, True Blood, and Mythic Quest. Manganiello will also star in Netflix’s highly anticipated One Piece season 2 as the villain Crocodile.

ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier spoke with Joe Manganiello about the latest twists and turns in Deal or No Deal Island. Manganiello talked about Dixon’s big moves and discussed the impact that people like legendary Survivor contestant Boston Rob have on the games that they play. Manganiello also shared his excitement for his turn as Crocodile in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece.

Joe Manganiello Discusses The Latest Twists & Turns Of Deal Or No Deal Island

The Actor Also Shares A Cut-For-Time Speech He Gave Dickson

ScreenRant: Last episode, Storm was blindsided. Dickson had his biggest win yet that we’ve seen on the show. What was your takeaway from the episode?

Joe Manganiello: For me it was a hero's journey for Dickson. What you don't see, and I'm actually trying to have them pull the footage up, is that, during the axe-throwing competition, Dickson got really down on himself. Some of that competition was edited for time, and what you didn't see was that Dickson was a little down, and I gave him this speech where I said, “Did you ever read The Hobbit?”

He said, “No, man. I'm not a nerd, Joe. I like sports. I play fantasy football. I don't really read books like that.” I said, “Okay, well, it's a story about a guy and he lives in this little town, and one day this wizard comes to him and presents him with this adventure of a lifetime where he is going to help these dwarves regain their mountain and their treasure from this dragon that took it over. He goes on this big quest, he gets to the mountain, and he's instrumental in helping them defeat the dragon. Then, he gets to take this treasure home, and he's this hero when he gets there.” I go, “You’re that guy. Come on now. Pick up that axe and throw it,” and he hit the target. It was this big moment for him, and then what happened later, unbeknownst to us all, was this player that everyone was really underestimating all of a sudden became the banker's biggest enemy. It was just such an awesome miniature arc through that episode.

And also, I'm sure you can feel it through the TV screen, but people want Dr. Will out. They want him out. He's the number one threat and Dickson was perceived as one of the lower threats, and then he just flew in the face of the deal with Dr. Will and said, “I don't care,” and did what he wanted and took Storm out and not Will's enemy, CK.

I want to talk about some of these contestants because we had Dr. Will, we have David Genat, and we have Parvati from Survivor fame. They're known for their strategic prowess. How has their presence influenced the dynamic of the game?

Joe Manganiello: The first three episodes of this season, I really described as the roller coaster riding up that first big hill. There were a few contestants taken out who, I'm not saying that people didn't want to win, but that they weren't as serious about gaming and as strategic as the other players. You can see, in one of the opening shots, Luke leaning over to Parvati–which is one of my favorite moments in the premiere episode–[going,] “Parvati, that's an exotic name. Oh, you're a yoga teacher.” He's there to mingle.

I looked at that and I said, “Oh, son, the game's already over. She's got you. You're caught in the web.” So, the first three episodes, I think, took out the players that maybe weren't necessarily prepared, whether it was strategically or physically, for what was going to come next. And that fourth episode, Dickson’s episode, really marks the point where that rollercoaster is coming down off of that hill and the game is on.

You asked about the three former champions that are playing this season. What's great is that three's a crowd at the top, so somebody's got to go. They’re jockeying as to who the shields are, and everyone else is kind of watching them play the game. I think Phillip's game is elevated because of his partnership with Parvati. I think Dickson’s game is elevated because of his partnership with David, especially, and Parvati. And then you have Will. Everybody loves a villain on TV, and Will's strategy actually paid off last week. Coming in hot really helped him because he kind of painted himself into the right corner when it came to who was the biggest threat. I love watching the former gamers play because [for] anybody who came and thought that they were there on vacation, it's like, “Wake up.”

With the mix of reality TV veterans and newcomers, how do you think this diverse cast impacts game dynamics?

Joe Manganiello: I think it’s interesting because as much as we've modified the game and upgraded the game to get people out of the middle, the existence of those former champion gamers allows for a buffer where people can figure the game out a little bit. Those people are the targets, so it gives a little bit of a buffer for some of the newer players.

Especially in season one, when you watch Boston Rob play, you’re watching him figure the game out, and then you’re watching the other players watch him figuring the game out and going, “Oh, this is what I need to be doing.” As this season progresses, you really see that the newer players that people haven’t seen before really step into their own. I really think in the next few years, you’re going to see some Deal or No Deal Island folks stepping into Traitors and some of these other shows, because they’re going to be around for a while. Casting this season was incredible.

Are there any particular challenges or contestant decisions that surprised or impressed you this season so far?

Joe Manganiello: There's a few, actually. In this episode that airs tonight, Dickson’s back at it again. Dickson’s a stone cold killer. Dickson came to the island to slit throats. Make friends, great, but he came there to win, and you're going to see that in this episode too. There are some moves that get pulled. There are a lot of moves.

You’ll see it a little bit like with CK in Dr. Will's face, throwing caution to the wind. You’ve already seen it. Then, you see some of the players who play a more virtuous game, let’s say, the Letes, the Phillips, and you’re watching them [go], “I’ll have an alliance over here.” Phillip’s like, “I’ll dance with the Black Widow, but I’m fully conscious of it,” and Lete is trying to play a game right down the middle. You see a lot of different play styles this season, which I really like. And I’ve got to say there’s no rule as to which ones work.

“He’s Not That Much Different From Luffy”: Manganiello Reflects On Being Cast As Crocodile In One Piece

The Character Is “About As Much Fun As You Can Have As A Villain”... For Now

Congratulations on being cast as Mr. 0, aka Crocodile, in One Piece. Can you share any insight into the dynamic between Mr. 0 and the Straw Hat Pirates in the season?

Joe Manganiello: For people keeping up with the pages as they've been coming out, especially the Marineford arc and beyond, there's a real turn for Crocodile later on. But in the early manga, come on, Crocodile's about as much fun as you can have as a villain.

I use that term liberally because when you really get into his backstory, he's not that much different from Luffy in some ways when they were young pirates. It's just that events happened to Crocodile that put him onto a very different path. When you catch up with him, he's fully formed as an adult, in some ways meeting himself as that young, wistful-eyed pirate that he once was. You're catching up with him at the height of his powers, which is a lot of fun for me.

About Deal Or No Deal Island

Deal or No Deal Island revitalizes the classic game show format with a tropical twist. Set on a picturesque island, contestants face heart-pumping decisions as they choose from sealed briefcases scattered across sandy beaches and lush jungles. Each case could boost their potential winnings or crush their hopes with modest sums.

New episodes of Deal or No Deal Island air Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.