`The Bachelor` is one of the biggest franchises in television history. It has also faced enormous criticism over the years for its lack of diversity.

After much pushback for never having a lead of color on the franchise's flagship show, `The Bachelor` will finally have its first Black lead with star Matt James

James is known to Bachelor Nation for his friendship with fan-favorite alum Tyler Cameron, who competed on Hannah Brown's season of `The Bachelorette.` James was initially cast to be a suitor on the upcoming season of `The Bachelorette` with Clare Crawley, which was supposed to begin airing this past May, but when production on `Bachelorette` was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, ABC began to think of a bigger role for James.

Despite mounting pressure on `The Bachelor` for its lack of diversity, as pointed out by Lindsay, especially over the past week in the wake of George Floyd's murder and amid Black Lives Matter movement protests, the network had its eye on James prior to the recently-heightened criticism, ever since he came in for casting early this past winter.

One benefit of announcing James early as `The Bachelor` - which the network hopes will premiere in Jan. 2021, pending on the ongoing pandemic - is that casting for James' suitors can begin early.

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After James' season, the franchise's diversity efforts will continue, and the executive assures that the network will not fall short in its commitment to representation on-screen. `Everyone agrees we can be doing better and we will work to do that,` Mills says. `I do think there have been some strides made - small and maybe not enough, but there has been a commitment and that will continue.`