Grant Ellis is stepping into the spotlight as Bachelor Nation’s latest leading man.
The first trailer for Grant’s upcoming season of The Bachelor aired during The Golden Bachelorette’s finale and After the Final Rose special on Wednesday, November 13. In true Bachelor fashion, the preview teases that Grant’s journey to find love could be one of the most dramatic in the franchise’s history.
“My biggest fear is that I end up alone,” Grant, 30, told former Bachelor Joey Graziadei in the trailer. The theme of the season continued when Grant rolled up his sleeve to show his lone wolf tattoo, which he said symbolized “being alone,” on a date.
After A LOT (we’re talking more than normal) tears from the women, there was a clip from the finale where Grant admitted that he didn’t know who he was going to pick between his final two. “You feel like you know what you want to do?” host Jesse Palmer asked Grant, who replied that he wasn’t sure. “We got both women, they’re here on standby, and of course, I have to know which to send first.”
Bachelor Nation Has Thoughts About the Timing of Grant’s ‘Bachelor’ Casting
Fans were introduced to Grant on Jenn Tran’s season 21 of The Bachelorette earlier this year. Despite forming a strong bond with the show’s star and scoring a one-on-one date, Jenn, 26, sent him home as she narrowed her group of men down to her final four.
“I poured everything out and it wasn’t good enough. It just sucks knowing that you feel some way about somebody, and they don’t feel the same about you,” he told the cameras after his elimination.
Shortly after he was sent packing, ABC announced that Grant was cast as The Bachelor’s season 29 lead in August. His casting is a historic one, becoming the show’s second Black lead following season 25 star Matt James.
“A self-proclaimed mama’s boy, Grant’s infectious smile and unwavering positivity instantly brightens every room he enters,” the network said in a press release. “The former pro basketball player is passionate about his career as a day trader, but when he’s not immersed in the fast-paced world of finance, you can find him cheering on the Lakers, hitting strikes at the bowling alley, or belting out tunes at karaoke nights.”
The network’s statement added that Grant “is eager to embark on a journey filled with romance, adventure, and genuine connections. He hopes to find a partner who shares his values of loyalty, humor and a deep appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.”
Meet the Potential Cast of Season 29 of ‘The Bachelor’ Picked for Grant Ellis
The timing of Grant’s casting announcement came as a surprise to some fans, as it was announced ahead of the conclusion of Jenn’s Bachelorette season. ABC executive Robert Mills explained why the news was shared sooner than later via X, “We are announcing Grant so quickly so people can still apply to be on his season. If you think Grant is potentially the man of your dreams or you know someone who is apply ASAP!!!”
During an August interview on Nick Viall’s “The Viall Files” podcast, Grant revealed he learned of his casting “a couple weeks” before the world did. “The producers called me and they asked me [if I] would be interested, and, you know, I jumped on it,” he shared. “I was like, ‘Yeah, of course.’ I was still recovering from the season, what happened with Jenn, and they called me. And I was just [like], ‘I’m super interested.’”
Noting that his Bachelorette journey with Jenn didn’t end the way he thought it would, he added: “I have a chance to write my own story. So, that’s something that I’m interested in.”
Heading into filming for his Bachelor season, Grant told Nick, 44, that he was excited to “meet these lovely women and to see what each of them brings to the table and has to offer and to see how we could connect and if we’re compatible.”
The Bachelor season 29 premieres on ABC Monday, January 27, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET.
