diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/strategies/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/strategies/__init__.py
index e9cdd7d35ce..83e045bfe39 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/strategies/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/strategies/__init__.py
@@ -104,6 +104,17 @@ class StrategyBase:
     def get_failed_hosts(self, play):
         return [host for host in self._inventory.get_hosts(play.hosts) if host.name in self._tqm._failed_hosts]
 
+    def add_tqm_variables(self, vars, play):
+        '''
+        Base class method to add extra variables/information to the list of task
+        vars sent through the executor engine regarding the task queue manager state.
+        '''
+
+        new_vars = vars.copy()
+        new_vars['ansible_current_hosts'] = self.get_hosts_remaining(play)
+        new_vars['ansible_failed_hosts'] = self.get_failed_hosts(play)
+        return new_vars
+
     def _queue_task(self, host, task, task_vars, connection_info):
         ''' handles queueing the task up to be sent to a worker '''
 
@@ -374,6 +385,7 @@ class StrategyBase:
                     for host in self._notified_handlers[handler_name]:
                         if not handler.has_triggered(host):
                             task_vars = self._variable_manager.get_vars(loader=self._loader, play=iterator._play, host=host, task=handler)
+                            task_vars = self.add_tqm_variables(task_vars, play=iterator._play)
                             self._queue_task(host, handler, task_vars, connection_info)
                             handler.flag_for_host(host)
                         self._process_pending_results(iterator)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/strategies/linear.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/strategies/linear.py
index efa96a35a7f..1ce9677f8f9 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/strategies/linear.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/strategies/linear.py
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@ class StrategyModule(StrategyBase):
                     else:
                         debug("getting variables")
                         task_vars = self._variable_manager.get_vars(loader=self._loader, play=iterator._play, host=host, task=task)
+                        task_vars = self.add_tqm_variables(task_vars, play=iterator._play)
                         templar = Templar(loader=self._loader, variables=task_vars)
                         debug("done getting variables")
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/vars/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/vars/__init__.py
index 239d77ca658..2d116854390 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/vars/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/vars/__init__.py
@@ -227,6 +227,15 @@ class VariableManager:
 
         if self._inventory is not None:
             all_vars['inventory_dir'] = self._inventory.basedir()
+            if play:
+                # add the list of hosts in the play, as adjusted for limit/filters
+                # FIXME: play_hosts should be deprecated in favor of ansible_play_hosts,
+                #        however this would take work in the templating engine, so for now
+                #        we'll add both so we can give users something transitional to use
+                host_list = [x.name for x in self._inventory.get_hosts()]
+                all_vars['play_hosts'] = host_list
+                all_vars['ansible_play_hosts'] = host_list
+
 
         # the 'omit' value alows params to be left out if the variable they are based on is undefined
         all_vars['omit'] = self._omit_token