Peter Kraus has not been ruled out as the next The Bachelor star despite show creator Mike Fleiss recently suggesting otherwise in a tweet.

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"He may make a great Bachelor," the franchise's longtime host Chris Harrison told People as producers are in the process of casting the show's Season 22 star for 2018.

"It's not like it's completely off the table. But after seeing him be with [Rachel Lindsay], it didn't give you that glowing feeling of, 'Hey, this guy is ready for another chance at love.' It would be really hard to spin that."

Chris suggested Peter, a 31-year-old personal trainer and business owner from Wisconsin, is still a Bachelor contender despite Mike tweeting last week, "Do we really want a Bachelor who isn't ready to settle down with a woman he loves? Hmm. Not what #thebachelor is all about."

Mike was seemingly referring to the fact Peter wasn't ready to get engaged to Rachel before The Bachelorette's final Rose Ceremony when only one other guy, Bryan Abasolo from Miami, remained.

"Peter is a very good man, a great guy. It's always hard to talk about who would be a good Bachelor/Bachelorette because then everybody goes off and takes that as, 'Oh Harrison doesn't like him.' That has nothing to do with it. They're all good people," Chris clarified.

Peter and Rachel had an excruciating breakup on The Bachelorette's thirteenth-season finale because -- even though they were in love with each other -- Peter needed more time before popping the question, but the Dallas attorney wasn't going to leave the show with just a boyfriend. Rachel therefore chose Bryan at the end of her journey to find love.

"It's about choosing someone who will make a good Bachelor, good television and who we think is sincerely ready for this moment -- ready to be the Bachelor, ready to settle down. There's the added factor: who will America really fall in love with and want to go on this journey?" Chris continued in his People interview.

"That's ultimately what we need is everyone to watch. With all that said, it's not an indictment on Peter, he's a really good guy. I think what Mike was saying was at the end of the show, is Peter really ready to settle down? The show exposes a lot."

Chris said cast members learn a lot about themselves by competing on ABC's The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, and Peter was no exception.

"I think Peter learned that he's not quite ready to really settle down and really commit. I think there are some issues that he's still dealing with from his past," Chris explained.

"It seems like he's still working through some things. I think his time with Rachel exposed some things in his life that he probably has to deal with and needs to handle before he's ready to settle down. In no way does that make him a bad guy or not worthy."

According to a source, two other bachelors are up for discussion to star on The Bachelor next season.

"Someone should be keeping an eye out for [Luke Pell], from [JoJo Fletcher]'s season," the source recently told People of the handsome war veteran and singer/songwriter from Texas.

The other possible candidate is reportedly former pro swimmer Robby Hayes, who is currently appearing on Bachelor in Paradise's fourth season.

"There's also been some conversation around Robby, JoJo's first runner-up, as a contender," the source noted of the self-declared "social media influencer."

"Right now he's getting a questionable edit on Paradise, with [Raven Gates] mocking him a lot, but he's been put on the show for a reason, to remind everyone of who he is and how hot he is, and if the audience seems to be responding well to him, he's got a real shot at it."

However, according to Bachelor in Paradise spoilers for Season 4, Robby may have found love and would therefore be out of the running.

To read what Peter had to say about potentially starring on The Bachelor after Rachel broke his heart, click here.

About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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