‘The Bachelor’ with Lead Matt James Will Head to this Resort on the East Coast for Filming — Not Bachelor Mansion

The Bachelor Season 25 will feature a Black lead for the first time — Matt James. However, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic threw a wrench in filming locations. So, the producers of the long-running show are switching things up and heading to the east coast.

What season is Matt James from?

Many fans were shocked when Matt James was announced as The Bachelor on Good Morning America because they didn’t know who he was. James has never been on any season of The Bachelorette, or it’s spinoffs before. 

Since the success of the first Bachelorette, Trista Sutter, the franchise has chosen the leads from previous seasons. Sutter was the heartbroken runner-up during Alex Michel’s inaugural Bachelor run. Matt Grant was the last person to be the star of the show in 2008, without appearing on a previous Bachelorette season. However, for season 25, the producers are shaking things up again. 

James was set to be a contestant on Clare Crawley’s season of The Bachelorette. However, the show was postponed in March 2020 due to the coronavirus. In light of the call for more diversity in the franchise, ABC picked James before he tried to fight for Crawley’s heart.

“We know we have a responsibility to make sure the love stories we’re seeing on-screen are representative of the world we live in, and we are proudly in service to our audience,” ABC said in a statement. 

Where will Matt James’ season of ‘The Bachelor’ film?

Not only is Clare Crawley’s season of The Bachelorette not filming at the famous Bachelor Mansion, but neither is Matt James’ season. Crawley’s season is well underway at the La Quinta Resort near Palm Springs, California. 

“Might not be Bachelorette, but got some Matt James Bachelor filming news,” spoiler king Reality Steve Carbone reported on Aug. 21, 2020. “His season will be filmed at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in PA, beginning at the end of September.”

The franchise visited Nemacolin Woodlands Resort during JoJo Fletcher’s season of The Bachelorette in 2016. It is located roughly an hour and a half south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

When will ‘The Bachelor’ season with lead Matt James air?

While ABC did not report the news, yet, Carbone pointed out that the resort is booked mid-September through Thanksgiving. TV Show Ace also reported that for the last 12 years, The Bachelor was filmed during that time-frame. 

The show will air on ABC in January 2021 during its regular time frame — Mondays at 8 p.m. EST. According to Reality Steve, Crawley’s season is continuing without a problem from the coronavirus pandemic. 

James’ cast and crew will quarantine at the resort in Pennsylvania in September and then begin filming. 

The Bachelorette Season 16 with lead Crawley will air on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST beginning in September 2020.