Bachelor Nation fans recently saw Season 22 of The Bachelorette get pulled, all the while the next season of The Bachelor is set to debut. Since then, rumors have come out about ABC’s next big plan. According to some sources, ABC might already have one figure lined up to be the next big series star. Rumors also abound over what the network has planned for the cancelled season.
The Bachelorette‘s Season 22, Set To Premiere Back In March, Was Pulled
Viewers have been tuning into ABC’s The Bachelor since 2002. The show, which sees a single bachelor choosing a fiancée from a list of romantic interests, has launched a number of spin-offs over the years, including The Bachelorette and The Golden Bachelor.
ABC has confirmed that The Bachelor will get a new season set to air in 2027. This will serve as the show’s thirtieth season. However, this notably comes out after a recent shakeup that may have caught Bachelor Nation fans off guard.
ABC recently cancelled Season 22 of The Bachelorette, which was set to premiere back in March. The season, which would have starred Taylor Frankie Paul of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives fame, was pulled after a 2023 video of Paul assaulting her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, resurfaced.
Another Reality Show Star Might Be ABC’s Next Choice To Lead The Bachelor
Since then, rumors have come out over what ABC could do next for the franchise, especially as the main show is set to premiere its next season. In addition to speculation that the pulled Season 22 could still air in some form, some suspect that one of the supposed romantic interests from the season could be the next lead. However, others believe that another figure could be the next bachelor.
There is speculation that conservationist and television personality Robert Irwin will be the Season 30 lead. This comes out just after his win on Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars alongside Witney Carson. He is also set to host the upcoming spin-off, The Next Pro.
The rumor was shared by The Daily Express, citing a Deux Moi tip. As was shared on Instagram, “ABC is hoping to finalize a deal with Robert Irwin to lead the show this fall, but if not, the next choice is Taylor’s runner-up from her season.” The share also claimed that Season 22 will be released on Hulu, with ABC airing the live finale.
A Source Recently Weighed In On ABC’s Alleged Bachelor Voice
The outlet also spoke with Amore Philip, the CEO and founder of Apples & Oranges Public Relations, who also weighed in on the story. She shared, “The case for Robert Irwin is compelling on paper. He is universally liked, he has no skeletons, he just won Dancing With the Stars, and he carried his father’s legacy in a way that makes audiences feel something genuine. In a franchise that has been bruised by the Taylor Frankie Paul drama and years of diversity controversies, a wholesome, charismatic Australian wildlife conservationalist is the cleanest possible reset. He is the anti-scandal candidate.”
However, Philip was also worried that Irwin could be too young for the role. She continued, “The Bachelor is not just a dating show. It is an emotional pressure cooker designed to produce conflict, tears, and drama. Robert Irwin’s entire brand is built on warmth, authenticity, and a genuine lack of drama. Those are wonderful qualities in a human being. They are not necessarily the qualities that make for compelling Bachelor television.”
Notably, Irwin has starred in a number of reality shows so far. This includes Animal Planet’s Crikey! It’s the Irwins, and co-hosted I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! alongside Julia Morris.
Ultimately, the outlet felt that the idea was an “interesting gamble.” Overall, fans will have to stay tuned in to see what happens next on The Bachelor.
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John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
