ABC making ‘interesting gamble' on rumored Robert Irwin casting plans for The Bachelor

Lauren DuBoisSun, May 31, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTC

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Robert Irwin

ABC is rumored to be considering Robert Irwin as the newest lead for the Bachelor (Image: Getty)

ABC is moving ahead with casting its next lead for The Bachelor, and if rumors that they might be considering Robert Irwin are true, it could be an "interesting gamble" for the network.

ABC confirmed a new season of The Bachelor would air in 2027, and they were actively looking into who to cast as a lead, in their first major franchise moves since they pulled Taylor Frankie Paul's season of The Bachelorette just before its premiere in March.

Now, amid rumors that her season could still air in some way despite being kept off of ABC's future schedules, others are also circulating about who could get the coveted gig-from the suitors of her season to Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro host Robert Irwin.

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Irwin, 22, has become a staple for ABC since winning Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars in the fall, and could be a major contender, according to a Deux Moi tip.

If his potential casting could be true, it could serve as an "interesting" choice fo the network, according to Amore Philip, the CEO and founder of Apples & Oranges Public Relations.

Speaking to the Daily Express, Philip noted that it is a gamble for the network because it could be compelling, but also not the right fit for the franchise.

"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," she said. "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."

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However, she also thinks Irwin may be too young for the show, which could make it a misfire as a casting choice.

"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," she said. "Those are wonderful qualities in a human being. They are not necessarily the qualities that make for compelling Bachelor television."

Robert Irwin potentially being cast as the Bachelor could be a risk for the franchise (Image: Getty)

"ABC is essentially betting that his charm carries the show without the manufactured chaos the format relies on," she added.

She also raised a possibility that ABC potentially reaching for Irwin could be a "defensive strategy" to help "rehabilitate the franchise's image."

"The traditional Bachelor universe argument has merit too. The franchise built its audience on a specific format with specific expectations. Robert Irwin has never been part of that world," she said. "He came from DWTS, he lives in Australia, and his life literally revolves around crocodiles and koalas."

"That is either the most refreshing Bachelor season in years or a complete tonal mismatch. There is very little middle ground."

The DWTS alum could also be a refreshing change for the franchise (Image: Getty)

Overall, she cautions that choosing Irwin could either work exceptionally well or be another major misstep for the troubled franchise-and it comes down to how ABC would handle it if they cast him.

"I ABC can build the season around who Robert Irwin actually is rather than forcing him into the traditional Bachelor mold, this could work beautifully. If they try to make him someone he is not, both the show and his brand will suffer for it."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”