Luke Pell and Chase McNary were frontrunners for the role of Season 21's The Bachelor star, so how do they feel about the shocking announcement ABC picked Nick Viall instead?

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The Tuesday night After Paradise announcement regarding Viall probably came as the biggest surprise to Pell, a war veteran and Texas cowboy whom reports claimed had the Bachelor gig in the bag. Fans were already anticipated him starring on the series' next edition, which will premiere in January 2017.

"Thx for all the love sometimes we are faced w/unexpected changes I'm happy to be back in Nash excited for the future," Pell tweeted August 30. "Trust God's timing, He has a plan for everything."

According to a source, Pell may have gotten "a big head" once it was reported he'd be the next Bachelor, E! News reported.

Pell had previously told reporters at The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All taping he absolutely wouldn't pass on the opportunity if it presented itself. He was open and excited to fall in love again.

McNary, a medical sales representative from Denver, pretty much admitted on Twitter he was hopeful producers would sign him on to be the upcoming Bachelor.

"Unfortunately, I don't get to be the Bachelor... but my arms and heart are wide open, and I trust the right woman will come into my life at just the right time!" McNary captioned an image of himself on Instagram Wednesday.

"Congrats @viallnicholas28," he added.

Pell and McNary both competed on JoJo Fletcher's season of The Bachelorette and made it very far into the competition. Other names that had been tossed around were Fletcher's runner-up Robby Hayes and another Season 12 suitor Wells Adams, who is currently on Season 3 of Bachelor in Paradise.

"Congrats @viallnicholas28 Go find that [love] this time!" Hayes tweeted August 30.

"@viallnicholas28 telling me he's gonna be the @BacheloretteABC. Didnt believe him. But U should know I love this man," Adams captioned a photo of himself and Viall that same day.

Sources told E! News that producers made a total "last minute decision" about Viall's participation. They allegedly loved his "comeback story" and how he went from the villain on two seasons of The Bachelorette to a hero on Paradise.

"Nick's closest friends and Bachelor in Paradise co-stars didn't even know until moments before it was announced on After Paradise," an insider told the website of his The Bachelor news.

"[Producers] liked what Nick brings to the table," another source explained. "He's a little older, more mature. It will be a very different season than, say, [Ben Higgins']. He's comfortable being himself around women. He's not afraid to have real conversations."


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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