‘RHONJ’ Test-Filming With New and Old Cast Members Before Season 15

Producers of The Real Housewives of New Jersey are taking steps to make sure the Bravo show returns with the right cast.

“Some of The Real Housewives of New Jersey cast have test-filmed,” a source exclusively shared with Us Weekly. “There are potential new cast members who filmed with Margaret Josephs, Dolores Catania and Melissa Gorga in mid-August.”

Test-filming is a common practice that reality shows do before production officially begins.

As the source explained, “They want to see how the new girls work on camera with some veteran cast members from the show.”

One potential newbie producers are looking at is Michelle Barone. According to social media, the “Michelle Barone RED” podcast host is friendly with original cast member Teresa Giudice and Jackie Goldschneider.

Although Teresa, Jackie and Jen Fessler did not test-film, the insider said they “are still in consideration to be part of the new season.”

As of now, everything is still up in the air.  As a Bravo spokesperson told Us, “No official casting decisions have been made.”

The Real Housewives of New Jersey has been on a hiatus ever since season 14 concluded in August 2024.

The Bravo show saw the cast divided with Teresa, Jackie, and Jennifer Aydin on one side and Margaret, Melissa, Danielle Cabral and Rachel Fuda on the other. (Dolores and Jen tried their best to stay neutral.)

Andy Cohen has maintained that the show has never been canceled. Instead, a team is working behind the scenes to figure out the best way forward.

“It was really on a deep pause, and we are actively there casting and looking at the future of what that will be,” Andy said during a June episode of The View. “It’s a great franchise, and we love it. I just have to reiterate that.”

Andy remained optimistic two months later when Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen guests Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers asked for an update regarding the future of The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

“We’re close,” Andy responded, playing coy about what that actually means.

While cast members are staying busy with various projects, Dolores previously opened up to Us about her life without cameras.

“You’re running on the adrenaline of what you have to do and what’s expected of you,” she explained in March. “And then all of a sudden it’s like, ‘Wait, it’s been a while now since I’ve done that.’ And then it’s, like, you go through a little thing — almost like a breakup. I feel like a relationship breakup. You take a little break and then you’re like, ‘OK, I want to start going again.’”

OK Magazine was first to report the test-filming.