Disney’s Reality Universe Navigates Challenges in 2026 as ABC & Hulu’s Rob Mills Stays Committed
A year ago, Rob Mills, Disney’s head of reality TV, made headlines with a vibrant showcase of the company’s unscripted programming at a lavish event in the Hollywood hills. Surrounded by stars from popular shows such as The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, The Kardashians, Dancing with the Stars, and The Bachelor, Mills aimed to demonstrate the strength of Disney’s offerings on both ABC and Hulu while challenging rivals like Bravo and Netflix.
However, the landscape shifted in 2026 when Mormon Wives had to halt production on its fifth season amid domestic assault allegations involving lead star Taylor Frankie Paul. These incidents, including a troubling video of Paul in a confrontation with her ex-boyfriend, disrupted related programming, notably The Bachelorette.
Such controversies might have led to a strategic retreat for Mills, who serves as Executive Vice President of Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment at Walt Disney Television. Yet, Mills has remained resolute, continuing to prioritize dating and dramatic narratives rooted in traditional reality formats while also exploring innovative concepts, particularly for Hulu.
Revisiting the lake venue for the second edition of the Get Real event, Mills made a memorable entrance with a snake, humorously referencing a two-year deal with the creature, which was introduced by Dancing with the Stars‘ Robert Irwin the previous year. He also introduced a host of Disney’s reality stars.
Despite the challenges posed by the Mormon Wives scandal, Hulu has greenlit a spinoff set in Orange County featuring a new cast of religious young women. Additionally, the network is incorporating former Vanderpump Rules star Stassi Schroeder and is working on a show following elite young nannies in Ibiza, as well as a dating series featuring single Christian college students on spring break.
The Secret Life Of Mormon Wives: Orange County (Disney/Maya Dehlin)
Mills noted, “We’ve gotten a really great foothold in the docu-soap space and we’re excited to start spinning off things like Mormon Wives and more stuff with the Kardashians.”
Mills continues to build on popular ABC franchises, confirming a spinoff of Dancing with the Stars titled The Next Pro and introducing more reality favorites into the dancing competition, including former Love Island and Traitors star Maura Higgins, and Ciara Miller from Summer House.
Mills expressed enthusiasm for the sustained strength of ABC’s reality shows, highlighting the resurgence of Dancing with the Stars, the excitement surrounding the current season of American Idol, and the upcoming 25th anniversary of the show. “The Bachelor franchise is very important to us and is going through its own growing pains right now. Those are our crown jewels,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Mills aims to captivate Hulu audiences with actress Parker Posey, who is transitioning into reality television as the host of ABC’s The Mob. This new show will feature unscripted stars like Mormon Wives’ Demi Engemann competing for cash prizes. Mills views The Mob as a significant push into serialized competition on Hulu, acknowledging past endeavors that did not resonate but expressing optimism about this potential breakout.
The Nader Sisters (Disney/Maya Dehlin)
On the docusoap front, Hulu is set to release a new season of Love Thy Nader, featuring Brooks Nader, in winter, alongside another series executive produced by Khloé Kardashian, spotlighting her inner circle.
Entitled The Girls, this production will include Kardashian friends like Natalie Halcro, Khadijah, and Malika Haqq. Furthermore, another Kardashian-related project is under development, focused in Calabasas, affirming the enduring partnership between the Kardashian family and Disney.
Mills reassured fans that The Kardashians is not nearing an end, with Season 8 currently in production and set to premiere early next year. “I don’t see the mothership coming to an end anytime soon,” he remarked, highlighting the family’s continuous innovation and business ventures.
While The Kardashians airs weekly, the majority of the reality lineup—including Mormon Wives, Vanderpump Villa, and Love Overboard—follows a binge-drop model. Mills noted that the episodic release strategy can contribute to sustained viewer engagement, contrasting it with the binge-drop typical of streaming platforms.
Additionally, Mills pointed out the effectiveness of allowing stars to transition between shows, using the appearance of two Mormon Wives stars on Dancing with the Stars as a prime example. “These ideas have to feel right, and when they do, they really work,” he said.
The reality docusoap genre is experiencing a resurgence, according to Mills, fueled by influencers from social media becoming stars. “Shows around these personalities are really having a moment right now,” he explained, though he acknowledged the cyclical nature of television trends.
In a nod to nostalgia, Hulu has commissioned a documentary directed by Erin Lee Carr about The Swan, the controversial Fox show that aired in 2004. Mills called it enjoyable to reflect on a time when outrageous ideas flooded the television landscape. While he deemed the documentary a smarter approach than rebooting the polarizing format, he quipped, “Never say never.”
