Cast for All-Star Season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ to Be Announced July 27

The much ballyhooed "all-star" season of 'Dancing with the Stars' is a go -- and ABC will tell us who the cast is a lot earlier than expected.

Traditionally, announcements for 'DWTS' happen about three weeks before the premiere and are televised during 'Good Morning America' or during ABC's primetime programming block. But for the all-star season, the network will debut its elite ensemble of previous competitors during the Television Critics Association summer press tour on July 27 -- well ahead of the show's expected fall premiere.

The move is seen as a way to build hype for the program as well as to give the contestants more time to rehearse. So who will they be?

Back in May, ABC entertainment president Paul Lee said competitors from each of the previous 14 seasons are eligible -- and placing in the top slots during their respective seasons wasn't a prerequisite for being chosen.

Although of course we don't know for sure yet, alums like Mario Lopez, Chelsea Kane, Bristol Palin, Carson Kressley, Joey Lawrence and Melanie "Scary Spice" Brown have all been floated as possible competitors.