The ballroom of Dancing With the Stars has long been a glittering launchpad for faded stars and fresh faces alike, but few have ignited a frenzy quite like Robert Irwin. The 21-year-old Australian wildlife conservationist—son of the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin and brother to DWTS champion Bindi Irwin—has turned Season 34 into his personal coronation. With each high-kicking jive and sultry tango, Irwin’s earnest charm and chiseled physique have captivated audiences, propelling him to frontrunner status and spawning a tidal wave of Hollywood interest. Now, insiders tell Grok News that his breakout performance isn’t just earning him perfect scores—it’s paving the way for a multimillion-dollar family reality TV deal that could eclipse even the Irwins’ storied Crikey! It’s the Irwins! franchise.

Irwin’s journey to the DWTS stage began as a nostalgic nod to family history. Announced as the season’s first celebrity contestant at Hulu’s Get Real event on April 22, 2025, he stepped into the shoes of his sister Bindi, who claimed the Mirrorball Trophy in Season 21 alongside pro Derek Hough a decade earlier. “This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid watching my sister’s incredible journey on the show back in 2016,” Irwin posted on Instagram, sharing a throwback clip of his pre-teen self as a guest announcer. Fast-forward to the September 17 premiere, and Irwin, paired with pro dancer Witney Carson, delivered a high-energy jive to “Good Lovin’” by The Rascals that judge Derek Hough hailed as “the best first dance I’ve seen in the show’s history.” The routine, infused with Irwin’s signature animalistic flair—complete with playful “croc snaps” and a nod to his dad’s khaki uniform—earned a near-perfect 22/30 from the panel, tying him for the night’s top score with reality star Whitney Leavitt and her partner, Mark Ballas.

Week 2’s tango to Junior Senior’s “Move Your Feet” only amplified the buzz. Irwin, who admitted in rehearsals he wasn’t even born when the track dropped in 2002—just four years before Steve’s fatal stingray encounter in 2006—poured raw emotion into the performance, holding onto his lead with scores that left judges Bruno Tonioli declaring him “a natural-born showman with the heart of a lion.” By TikTok Night in Week 3, Irwin’s shirtless samba had Carrie Ann Inaba quipping, “Robert Irwin is all grown up. You are making me feel like a grandmother. Put your shirt back on!” The routine, a sizzling 24/30, featured viral clips of Irwin’s sculpted abs—honed from years wrangling crocs at Australia Zoo—that racked up 15 million views overnight, blending wholesome wildlife vibes with unexpected thirst traps. “He’s channelling more than a little Hugh Jackman-in-The Boy from Oz aesthetic,” noted The Guardian, capturing the mix of boy-next-door appeal and undeniable charisma that’s hooked viewers craving “unproblematic and wholesome” fare amid the show’s usual redemption arcs.

Off the dance floor, Irwin’s family has been his emotional anchor. Bindi, now 27, husband Chandler Powell, 28, and their 4-year-old daughter Grace Warrior have jetted from Queensland to cheer from the front row, turning each episode into an Irwin reunion special. A tearful post-performance hug with Bindi in Week 1 went viral, with Irwin telling Entertainment Tonight, “That was not planned,” as he wiped away tears. Their mother, Terri Irwin, 61, doubles as Robert’s manager, fielding a barrage of offers while shuttling the clan between L.A. hotel suites and Australia Zoo duties. “The American audience is fascinated by them and their unorthodox life,” a network executive whispered to 7NEWS, echoing the sentiment that’s fueled rumors of a full-family pivot to U.S. screens.

That fascination has manifested in concrete pitches. On October 3, TMZ exclusively revealed that Chippendales in Las Vegas extended an invite for Irwin to guest host post-DWTS, joining DWTS alums like Tyson Beckford and Joey Lawrence in a nod to his emerging sex-symbol status. “Robert would be a perfect celebrity guest host,” the pitch read, highlighting his “rockin’ bod” from the samba routine. But the real prize? A sprawling reality TV deal insiders describe as “pretty much a done deal.” Sources close to the negotiations tell Grok News that Discovery+ and Hulu are in a heated bidding war for a multi-season series tentatively titled Irwin Life: Wild at Heart, blending behind-the-scenes zoo antics, family adventures, and Robert’s post-dance exploits. Estimated at $5-7 million per season, the show would feature Terri’s conservation crusades, Bindi’s parenting hacks, and Robert’s globe-trotting wildlife rescues— all shot in crisp 4K with drone footage over the Australian outback.

“The feeling is that they’ll give in to whatever the Irwins want because this family is a potential gold mine,” a Star Magazine insider dished, noting how Robert’s DWTS surge has “created this surge of interest in everything to do with the family.” Everyone is saying they’d be perfect for a reality show,” the source added, pointing to the Irwins’ telegenic dynamic: Terri’s no-nonsense wisdom, Bindi’s bubbly resilience, Chandler’s easygoing athleticism, and little Grace’s pint-sized wonder. It’s a far cry from their 2019-2023 Animal Planet series Crikey! It’s the Irwins!, which drew 1.2 million U.S. viewers per episode but ended amid Terri’s desire for more family privacy. Now, with Robert’s star power—bolstered by his 8.5 million Instagram followers and recent Bonds underwear campaign—networks see untapped potential in a post-DWTS glow-up.

Irwin’s appeal transcends the dance floor. At Australia Zoo, the 40-hectare Beerwah haven founded by Steve in 1970, attendance spiked 25% in Q3 2025, per Queensland tourism data, with fans clamoring for “Robert sightings” amid croc feedings and koala encounters. His social media, a mix of conservation PSAs and DWTS rehearsal bloopers, has ballooned to 9.2 million followers, outpacing Bindi’s 4.8 million. “Robert’s got that rare combo: heart, hustle, and hotness,” says Deadline entertainment editor Anita Busch, who covered the family’s rise. “He’s not just dancing; he’s rebranding the Irwin legacy for Gen Z—sustainable, sexy, and sincere.” Even competitors acknowledge the “Irwin fever.” Alix Earle, the TikTok queen with 7 million followers, told TODAY after Week 2, “Robert’s killing it—those abs don’t hurt.” Meanwhile, eliminations like Dylan Efron’s in Week 3 underscore the pack: Corey Feldman and Jen Affleck cling to the bottom, while Irwin sails toward the semifinals on October 22.

Yet, for all the glamour, Irwin remains grounded in grief and gratitude. Steve’s 2006 death—a barbed stingray to the chest while filming at Batt Reef—left a void the family has filled with purpose. Robert, who was just two at the time, honors it through Wildlife Warriors, the nonprofit co-founded by Terri that has protected 500,000 acres of habitat since 2007. “Dad taught us to live loud and love fierce,” he said in a pre-premiere USA Today interview, his voice steady but eyes distant. “Dancing? It’s my way of roaring back—at the pain, the pressure, all of it.” Bindi, a vocal advocate for endometriosis awareness after her 2023 surgery, mirrors that resilience; her DWTS win came amid her own health battles, a parallel Robert now echoes.

The deal’s fine print remains under wraps, but Terri’s savvy—honed negotiating Steve’s Crocodile Hunter syndication, which grossed $100 million globally—ensures family-first terms. “No snakes in the contract,” she joked to reporters outside the CBS Studios lot on October 1, post-Week 3 results. Insiders hint at creative controls: veto power on storylines, a Brisbane-based production hub to minimize travel, and tie-ins with the Irwin family’s East Coast USA tour, set for spring 2026. Hulu, fresh off cross-promoting The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars on DWTS, sees synergy; Discovery+ eyes docu-drama elements akin to Free Britney. “It’s not just Robert—it’s the whole Irwin ecosystem,” the 7NEWS source clarified. “Terri’s the matriarch, Bindi’s the heart, Chandler’s the muscle, Grace is the wildcard. Add Robert’s charisma, and you’ve got Emmy bait.”

Public reaction has been electric. #TeamIrwin trended worldwide after the premiere, with 2.5 million TikToks recreating his jive—many featuring pet crocs or kangaroo hops. Fans from Sydney to Seattle flood Australia Zoo’s site, boosting merch sales 40% (crocs optional). Celeb endorsements roll in: Hugh Jackman tweeted, “Mate, you’re making Oz proud—now teach me that snap!” while Carrie Underwood, a DWTS alum, DM’d support: “Wild heart, killer feet. You’ve got this.” Even skeptics, like CNN‘s Brian Lowry, concede: “In a sea of scripted schlock, the Irwins feel refreshingly real.”

As semifinals loom, Irwin eyes balance. Post-DWTS, he’s slated for a National Geographic special on Great Barrier Reef conservation and a solo Australia Zoo exhibit. But the reality deal? It could cement the Irwins as transatlantic titans, blending Duck Dynasty drama with Planet Earth wonder. “We’re not performers—we’re protectors,” Robert told Grok News via Zoom from rehearsals, Carson giggling in the background. “If a show lets us amplify that, sign us up. Just no more tangos in thongs.”

For a family forged in fang and fin, Robert’s DWTS detour is more than steps—it’s a strut toward legacy 2.0. With deals dangling and votes pouring in, the boy who grew up in khaki is dancing into dollars, proving that in Hollywood’s jungle, the wildest survivors wear sequins.