Aspiring Hollywood star Joseph Baena has reportedly landed a spot as a contestant on the next season of Dancing with the Stars. Per Deadline, Baena, the son of veteran actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, will appear in the show’s 31st season. The new season marks the first of the series to premiere on its new home at Disney+ after making the move from network television.

A chip off the old block, Baena just so happens to look a lot like his father, and in some ways, he’s been following in his footsteps. Baena is an Olympic lifter and has been pursuing a career in acting. Despite the connection to his famous father, however, Baena prefers not to adopt the Schwarzenegger surname for his career, feeling that he wants to honor his mother while proving himself as a performer without using his dad’s name.

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“Well, I already have a last name, and I don’t have a problem with my last name. I like my last name,” Baena previously told Inside Edition. “My career path is really just my own… My mom is one of my main motivators, and seeing her and how she works so hard, I want to make her proud.”

Still hoping to make his dad proud, even without using the same last name, Baena added, “Same with my father. What he made of himself from nothing. I mean, both of my parents are immigrants that kind of created something out of nothing. So, seeing them, it’s been a huge inspiration, and I want to make them proud. I want to make myself proud.”

Dancing with the Stars Makes the Move to Disney+

     Disney+

Officially, the full cast has yet to be announced for the 31st season of Dancing with the Stars, so it’s not yet clear who all else will be competing in the upcoming season. Alfonso Ribeiro and Tyra Banks serve as co-hosts for the new season with the judges’ dais including Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough. Ribeiro had previously appeared as a contestant on the series while Banks joined as host in season 29. The two had also worked together on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

“Dancing with the Stars has been such an important part of my life for so many years, and I am ecstatic to officially re-join this tight-knit family as co-host,” Ribeiro said in a statement when his role as co-host was officially announced earlier this summer.

Banks added: “I’ve known Alfonso since I was 19 years old and he always puts a smile on my face whenever I see him. Having such a fun-loving, longtime friend as co-host warms my heart. Bantering back and forth with him live is going to be so much fun!”

Dancing with the Stars is set to premiere season 31 on Disney+ on Sept. 19, 2022. The full cast is set to be formally announced on Sept. 8 on Good Mornina America.