"Dancing With The Stars" 2017 premieres March 20 on ABC with an all-new cast of celebrity Mirrorball Trophy hopefuls ready to go for glory in the storied "DWTS" ballroom. Although the rumor mill has, to date, remained unusually quiet for season 24, several pro dancers --and one judge-- have spoken out about who they think should join up. So who made their dream "DWTS" 2017 cast list?
A 'Dancing with the Stars' season 24 judge's pick
Carrie Ann Inaba, who sits at the "DWTS" judges' table alongside Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Julianne Hough, told AOL in a Jan.
26 interview that she'd like to see Bruno Mars strut his stuff as a "Dancing with the Stars" cast member (though she seemed to admit that it would be a longshot).
The pros' dream match-ups
When recently asked to choose her dream partner for the "DWTS" 2017 cast, Emma Slater --who last hoofed it alongside former Texas governor Rick Perry-- tweeted out a trio of very different guys in "Storage Wars" star Barry Weiss, actor Russell Brand, and "Property Brothers" heartthrob Jonathan Scott.
Sharna Burgess, who just missed winning the Mirroball Trophy with IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe last fall, tweeted her approval of two ideal matches suggested by fans: singer/songwriter Usher, and actor Chris Pratt.
Potential 'DWTS' 2017 cast members?
Although there's no indication that any of the cast members' dream picks have actual interest in competing on the hit reality TV show, others are more legitimate rumor material. One is Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, who declined an invitation to compete last fall but said she'd be interested in taking part in a future season.
Current "The Bachelor" Nick Viall expressed his interest to Glamour, and fan site PureDWTS also noted that actor Rick Schroder, who was asked to dance during past seasons, was photographed with former Mirrorball Trophy winner Witney Carson at the iHeart80s Party on Jan. 28.
"Dancing with the Stars" 2017 cast speculation is fun, but there are a few known variables, according to a Jan.
12 Glamour interview with show producers Deena Katz and Rob Wade. For one, roughly half of the cast had already been determined as of that date, and two, per Katz, the season will aim to provide viewers with a feel-good air: "we’re going to nostalgia, we’re going to Americana, we’re going to heroes."
Keep watching for spoilers --and the official cast announcement date-- and then check out the "DWTS" season 24 premiere on March 20.
