Last night, latest leading man for "The Bachelor" Matt James tweeted out a coy update:
To the average scroller, this may just look like James is taking a social media hiatus. But Bachelor Nation fans know what's going on: James is ditching his cell phone, social media and most communication with the outside world as he prepares to begin filming "The Bachelor."
James was selected as the show's next lead in June, in the midst of franchise alums' push for more diversity. He was first meant to be a contestant on the upcoming season of "The Bachelorette," but was pulled during casting shake-ups when that season was delayed.
Steve Carbone, who goes by Reality Steve on social media and always has details of the inner workings of the shows and spoilers galore, pointed out last week that James and "The Bachelor" producers had arrived at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania, where the show is reportedly going to film. The Bachelor Mansion is, obviously, off limits, as an actual family lives there during the other 11 months of the year and there's a pandemic going on.
Pennsylvania in the fall? A catalyst for romance if I've ever seen it.
While we're still likely a few weeks off from proper filming, since contestants will have to quarantine upon arriving at Nemacolin, it's likely that "The Bachelor" will begin just a few weeks after "The Bachelorette;" after all, the show usually airs every January, so it makes sense that producers would try to get things back on schedule.
Reality Steve also mentioned that Nemacolin is where Chad Johnson was eliminated in that spicy two-on-one during JoJo Fletcher's season.
Hopefully, James' experience at the resort turns out better. He's already got people cheering him on from home: