When Will ABC Announce The Next ‘Bachelor’ And Who Is It?

Viewers who expected to find out who the next “The Bachelor” lead is during Monday’s “The Bachelorette” finale were sorely disappointed. Following Becca Kufrin’s Season 14 finale, ABC did not release the name of the next Bachelor Nation star set to take on the starring role, and if history is any indication, fans will have to wait awhile to get their answer.

While it is common for ABC to reveal its annual “Bachelorette” immediately following a season of “The Bachelor,” and in some cases, even before they have been eliminated on the show, it’s also normal for the network to wait to reveal their new “Bachelor.”

All of the past six Bachelors were revealed weeks after “The Bachelorette” season that predated it aired its finale. ABC announced Juan Pablo Galavis, Chris Soules, Ben Higgins and Nick Viall in August, Sean Lowe in September, and, most recently, Arie Luyendyk Jr. in October. If the network continues to follow this pattern, fans can expect an announcement regarding the 2019 star as early as this month.

While fans are already buzzing online about who ABC will pick as its next “Bachelor” star, the network has confirmed it has yet to make a decision. However, Rob Mills, ABC’s SVP of alternative series, specials & late-night programming, did tell Variety they have a few frontrunners in mind.

“The audience is the silent producer of this show. We want to see who people want to see as ‘The Bachelor,’” he said. “There are several candidates, and there’s no consensus from the audience. People have pros and cons on several people. We also want to see when we start talking to girls who will be in the potential cast, who they like.”

ABC may not be ready to make a decision just yet, but in a recent tweet, Mike Fleiss, executive producer for “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” did mention a few “Bachelorette” castoffs when revealing his top “vote getters.” Weiss, who gave host Chris Harrison the top spot, specifically called out Becca’s runner-up Blake Horstmann, third runner-up Jason Tartick, Colton Underwood, and Wills Reid. If the latter four would get the job, it wouldn’t exactly be shocking.

It’s common for the show to pick “The Bachelorette” contestants who were close to winning the series for their next “Bachelor.” Lowe, Soules, and Higgins each placed third on their respective seasons, which easily leaves room for Jason to jump into the role. Meanwhile, Viall place second on both “Bachelorette” seasons he starred on, as did Luyendyk Jr., which means Becca’s runner-up Blake also become the next “Bachelor.”

Still, ABC could give us a curveball “Bachelor” and give us Wills or Colton, who was eliminated by Becca before the fantasy suite dates and is currently starring on “Bachelor in Paradise.” After all, the series has done it before, naming Galavis its “Bachelor” after he was sent home by “Bachelorette” Desiree Hartsock in week six.

Who do you think the next “Bachelor” will be? Share your predictions in the comments section below.