'The Bachelor' Producers Seeking Net-New Lead for Season 30 in Major Shakeup

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'The Bachelor' Producers Seeking Net-New Lead for Season 30 in Major Shakeup originally appeared on Parade.

Bachelor producers may be going in a different direction for their newly announced season 30. The hit reality dating show appears to be casting for a completely fresh face to lead the next installment of the show, which will likely premiere in early 2026.

Casting partner Wyldside Media took to Instagram on Monday, June 30, 2025, to share that they're casting for the next Bachelor, and clarified that it wasn't just contestants they're seeking. "Yes, the actual guy handing out roses. Yes, it could be your hot friend. Yes, it could be you. Yes, you can nominate him below. You’re welcome," they wrote in the caption.

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The casting announcement comes the same day as another major shakeup: Scott Teti was announced by Deadline as the new executive producer and showrunner following the departure of Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner amid “toxic” workplace allegations. Teti signed on to lead Bachelor in Paradise in January 2025, and will now be at the helm of the flagship series.

With declining ratings, growing criticism of recent leads, and taking a pause on The Bachelorette, it makes sense that the show would try to shake things up and go in a different direction. While the leads of Bachelor and Bachelorette have historically been cast from the pool of contestants from previous seasons, getting a completely new lead would not be totally unprecedented.

Matt James was announced as the lead of The Bachelor in 2021 despite not being a contestant onThe Bachelorette. He did have a connection to the series as a friend of former contestant Tyler Cameron and had actually been cast for season 16 ofThe Bachelorette, but didn't appear on the show because filming was delayed during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

When The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul suggested she should lead the next season of The Bachelorette, fans seemed excited about the idea of bringing in new people. "You may be the only one powerful enough to save theBachelorfranchise," said one fan, while another admitted, "I’ve never watched theBachelorettebefore but I will if it’s you girly!"

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Of course, the show could still opt to pick a standout from the upcoming season of Bachelor in Paradise or an older Bachelorette contestant if casting can't find a good candidate, but since there will be no Bachelorette season in 2025, it may be the perfect time for producers to try something new.

'The Bachelor' Producers Seeking Net-New Lead for Season 30 in Major Shakeup first appeared on Parade on Jul 1, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.