‘DWTS' Casting Director Drops New Clues About Season 35
Dancing with the Starscasting director may or may not have just shared some insight into the show's upcoming Season 35.
"I'm really excited about what I'm putting together this year," Deena Katz said in an interview with ABC's On the Red Carpet. "I'm even a little bit earlier than I usually am."
And while Katz, who is also the show's executive producer, didn't disclose any new celebrities joining the show, she noted that she's "about two thirds of the way done already," in regards to her selections.
"Normally I'm not that far," she added.
As for who's confirmed to compete on the next season of the ballroom dance competition, Summer House and Traitors star Ciara Miller,Love Island star Maura Higgins and Savanah Bananas player Jackson Olson, have been formally announced to join the show.
When it comes to Katz' strategy behind casting each season though, she shared that while she wants to keep viewers on their toes, she also wants to ensure there's familiarity in the "stars."
"You don't want to keep doing the same thing, so I have to do something different and yet something that the audience is ready to embrace," she explained.
Related: 'Rookie' Star Jenna Dewan on Joining 'Dancing With the Stars': 'I Never Say Never'
Katz, who was joined in the interview by previous DWTScontestants Danielle Fishel and Jordan Chiles, noted that once former "stars" see their partners with new dancers, there's "a little jealousy."
"It's hard for these guys to watch Pasha [Pashkov] who is [Fishel's former partner] suddenly with someone else," she noted.
Chiles, for her part noted that she was looking forward to seeing who her former parter Ezra Sosa would be paired with.
"Ezra for me, he's the youngster on the crew so I'm just excited as his partner to see where he goes," she said. "I think that's why it's so cool for us on the outside because it's like, yes do we wish we could be in that role again, but also it's a new step, it's a new chapter."
When it comes to any manifestations that the pros have had though, husband-and-wife duo Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnsonhave spoken out about their dream partners.
Time will tell if Katz grants their wishes though.
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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 1:20 PM.