The casting of Nick Viall as the star of "The Bachelor" Season 21 has caused quite a stir, as reports indicate that Luke Pell from JoJo Fletcher's season of "The Bachelorette" was actually the first choice.
Expressing his shock at Viall being cast as the next "Bachelor," Pell revealed that they were well into planning for his season of the dating reality show. "We were all satisfied, had agreed to the contracts and everything was moving forward. I was checked in to my flight to come to L.A.," Pell told Us Weekly on Thursday. On Sunday night Pell reportedly received a call from producers saying they have decided to go in a different direction.
"We had planned for intro filming and had planned to have my sister come on for a date and give advice as part of the show," he said. "I met with the wardrobe guys. Everything was moving forward. Everyone on the production level was expecting it to be me, as well."
Defending the show's decision to cast Viall as the next "Bachelor," host Chris Harrison said the runner up from Andi Dorfman and Kaitlyn Bristowe's season was a more deserving candidate. "He has just become that perennial, second place guy who wants to find love and is as sincere, if not more sincere, than anybody about finding it," Harrison told People.
Viall's ex Andi Dorfman echoed similar sentiments, telling Us Weekly that his feelings have always been genuine. "I'm happy for Nick. It's been a long road for him, but he has always been genuine about wanting to find love. So I'm happy to see him get another shot at it, and I wish him all the best."
Viall is currently a contestant on Season 3 of "Bachelor in Paradise" and on the show he is dating Jen Saviano. But clearly things did not work out between them, forcing Viall to look for love once again on reality television.
"Bachelor in Paradise" airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC. "The Bachelor" returns to ABC in early 2017.
