Dancing with the Stars bosses are on the hunt for their celebrity line-up for the upcoming 2024 series – with JLo’s exes and Gypsy Rose Blanchard among the famous faces they are desperate to cast.
With just a few months to go until the arrival of the new ABC season, executives have been working tirelessly behind-the-scenes trying to sign all the big name stars to have dominated headlines throughout the year.
Among those names are Jennifer Lopez’s former partners Cris Judd and Casper Smart, who have sparked an interest in recent weeks due to mass speculation that her marriage to Ben Affleck is on the rocks.
Joining them is newly released felon Gypsy Rose, who has turned into a viral media sensation since her release prison at the end of December.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, an insider close to the show said everyone who has had tongues wagging will be on the radars of executives, as they are keen to sign red hot talent in a bid to boost ratings.
Dancing with the Stars bosses said to be eyeing up Jennifer Lopez’s exes for the 2024 series
Gypsy Rose Blanchard is also among the famous faces bosses are desperate to cast
They said: ‘Dancing with the Stars always overbooks talent and will go to the very last minute to sign someone up.
‘Producers are constantly talking to stars throughout the year to work with their schedules.
‘They also wait for certain events to end, like this summer’s Olympics to see who trends and who would be a good fit.
‘Everyone who has been in the news, or will be in the news, are always asked. With it being an election year, anyone connected to Biden or Trump will be asked as well as Tik Tok stars.
‘But JLo’s exes, Cris Judd or Casper Smart, could be a double whammy this year due to their dating history and because their dancing abilities would make for great entertainment.’
The source continued: ‘As bosses craft the next season, they will have automatic selections with the help of other ABC shows like the Bachelor franchise, with Joan Vassos on their radar.
‘They also have a direct line to Bravo, and with ABC a part of Disney, lots of favors can be asked.
‘The show is also reaching out to Gypsy Rose Blanchard as she is such a lightning rod and would be a ratings grabber, as too would someone from the cast of Baby Reindeer.
‘The show thrives with controversy. They will ask everyone who has, or will be in the headlines, including Caitlin Clark – even if it will be a firm ‘no’ like Shohei Ohtani who they will never get.’
Let’s take a look at the talent production are vying to get signed for DWTS 2024.
JLo’s exes Cris Judd or Casper Smart
First up, are JLo’s exes Cris and Casper. Production are thought to have taken a sudden interest in the duo following media speculation that her marriage to Ben is in trouble.
Cris and Jennifer met in late 2000 when he was hired to dance in her music video for Love Don’t Cost A Thing.
The relationship moved quickly and the two were married September 29, 2001.
The whirlwind romance wasn’t to last, however, and they split up in June of 2002. The divorce became official the following year.
JLo’s exes Cris Judd and Casper Smart have spiked in interest due to speculation her marriage to Ben Affleck has broken down
Speculation is rife that JLo’s marriage to Ben Affleck is in trouble
Cris then went on and married Kelly A. Wolfe in Laguna Beach, California in November 2009, and they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Vivienne, in September 2013.
In an interview in 2019, Cris admitted that the former couple had not remained in each other’s lives following their divorce.
‘Man, I’m so far removed from her,’ he said at the time. ‘I just wish her the best.’
JLo went on to meet Caspar in 2011 – was is 13 years her junior – when he was a backup dancer on her tour.
The former couple were together for five years, before eventually going their separate ways for good in August 2016.
One year after their split, Casper appeared to hint that they had ended things on good terms, ‘I want nothing but the best, and love, you know?’
Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark has taken basketball world by storm this year, after becoming the all-time leading scorer (men’s or women’s) in Division 1 history.
She was selected by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft in April, which has sent her career skyrocketing.
Caitlin Clark has become a huge name in WNBA, having signed to Indiana Fever in April
In April, DailyMail.com reported that Caitlin, 22, had been offered a spot on DWTS.
At the time, an insider said that she was refusing to take part in the series but producers were not relenting.
‘Every single offer you could get has been thrown her way,’ an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively.
‘The producers of Dancing with the Stars have asked Caitlin to take part, but she has respectfully declined.
‘She is focusing on the WNBA this summer and in the fall when DWTS comes back, Caitlin is going to dive into some other opportunities and chase those goals instead.
‘She’s not opposed to doing reality shows, but DWTS is not going to be on the table much to the chagrin of ABC, as they really wanted her and would have bent over backward to get her for the show – but it just isn’t going to happen.’
Could she be swayed to take on the ballroom?
Baby Reindeer cast
Breakout Baby Reindeer stars Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning are also on the radars of DWTS’ bosses, after the show quickly captivated the globe.
Baby Reindeer stars Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning are also in the running for DWTS
Richard, who wrote the acclaimed real-life Netflix drama, plays the lead character with his name changed to Donny Dunn, while Jessica plays Martha Scott, a portrayal of his real-life stalker Fiona Harvey.
The seven-part show blew up on the streaming giant almost instantly after it premiered on Netflix on April 11, 2024.
Since its release, Baby Reindeer has drawn over 56 million views through May 8, making it Netflix’s most popular content this year.
It is also on track to become the most streamed show on Netflix of all time – so understandably, DWTS bosses are eager to jump on the tailcoats of its success by signing one of its cast members.
On top of Baby Reindeer becoming a ratings success, the drama has also hit headlines in recent days after it was learned that the real-life Martha is suing Netflix for $170million in damages as she claims the series allowed viewers to track her down in real life – and that she is now being inundated with abuse.
Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani is also among the list of names DWTS producers are hoping to bag.
In March, the popular baseball player made headlines when it was revealed that his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara had stolen $17million from him to pay off his gambling debts.
Baseball star Shohei Ohtani is also on the list for DWTS. He hit headlines earlier this year when it was revealed his interpreter had stolen $17million from him
Ippei allegedly placed bets on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college football.
Breaking his silence on the scandal at the time, Shohei said that he was ‘very saddened and shocked’ that his interpreter had stolen from him.
‘I never bet on baseball or any other sports and never asked someone to do it on my behalf and never went through a bookmaker,’ he said.
‘In conclusion, Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies.’
Mizuhara recently pled guilty to bank fraud and signing a false tax return that could see him land in prison for over 30 years.
In recent weeks, it was also announced that the shocking story will be serialized for television.
This show will be following Ohtani’s story and his rise to becoming one of the most famous baseball players in the world, as well as the scandal that rocked his career.
Joan Vassos
The Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos is also being eyed up to compete on the new series.
Last month, the 61-year-old reality star was announced as ABC’s first ever Golden Bachelorette after previously featuring on the network’s season of The Golden Bachelor.
On the show, she had vied for Gerry Turner’s heart, but ultimately decided to depart the process early to take care of her daughter.
Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos is also reportedly in the runnings for DWTS
A private school administrator from Rockville, Maryland, Joann was married for 32 years to her husband John until his death in 2021 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
They had four children together and Joan is now also a grandmother of two.
In her free time, she enjoys listening to Elton John music, cooking, and being with her dog.
The very first Golden Bachelor debuted last year and yielded the biggest multi-platform viewership for the franchise since 2020, according to Variety.
While Joan’s new series will air on Wednesdays this fall, she could have a gap in her schedule that will allow for her to test her ballroom skills on DWTS.
