The cast of Reba McEntire’s (Reba, Tremors) untitled NBC comedy pilot continues to grow, with the latest additions being Tokala Black Elk (Yellowstone), Rex Linn (Young Sheldon), and Pablo Castelblanco (Alaska Daily).
The pilot revolves around Bobbie (played by McEntire), who unexpectedly inherits her father’s restaurant only to find out that she now has a new business partner in the form of her long-lost half-sister, much to her dismay.
As exclusively reported by Deadline on Monday, Belissa Escobedo (Hocus Pocus 2, Blue Beetle) is set to portray Bobbie’s half-sister, while Melissa Peterman (Reba, Baby Daddy) will take on the role of a bartender at the tavern who harbors a desire to be Bobbie’s sister.
Tokala’s character, Takoda, is a waiter at the tavern, possessing remarkable handyman skills and a heart of gold, making him perhaps the most genuinely kind person you’ll ever encounter. Linn will take on the role of Emmett, the tavern’s cook, known for his quiet demeanor and concise speech. Castelblanco portrays Steve, the tavern’s accountant, who works diligently at the bar, but struggles with OCD and has a strong aversion to change.
Next, Tokala will grace screens in Peter Berg’s (Friday Night Lights, Very Bad Things) American Primeval limited series for Netflix, sharing the spotlight with Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights, John Carter). Prior to this, he captivated audiences in Paramount’s acclaimed limited series 1883 and made recurring appearances in the inaugural season of Yellowstone on Paramount+, alongside Kevin Costner (Dances With Wolves, Yellowstone). Noteworthy TV credits also include Outer Range for Amazon, Lewis & Clark for HBO, and Grey’s Anatomy for ABC, among others. On the cinematic front, Tokala made his debut in Taylor Sheridan’s (Yellowstone, Sicario) Wind River.
Hailing from the Oglala Sioux Tribe and tracing his lineage directly to the revered Lakota spiritual leader Black Elk, Tokala spent his formative years on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where he fluently converses in multiple Native languages. He is represented by Elevate Entertainment and Meyer Downs, LLP.
Currently, Linn is featured in the concluding season of Young Sheldon. Alongside his appearances across all seven seasons of the CBS sitcom, his recent endeavors include roles in AMC’s Better Call Saul and ABC’s Big Sky. Notably, Linn spent a decade starring in CSI: Miami. His television portfolio encompasses Paramount TV’s miniseries Waco, alongside Michael Shannon (99 Homes, Mud), and Nicole Kidman’s (Eyes Wide Shut, The Hours) Apple+ anthology series Roar. On the big screen, he has contributed to films such as Django Unchained, Rush Hour, Tin Cup, Cliffhanger, and Clear and Present Danger. Linn is represented by Fourward and Greenberg Glusker.
Recently, Castelblanco portrayed Gabriel Tovar, a series regular, in ABC’s drama Alaska Daily, headlined by Hillary Swank (Boys Don’t Cry, Million Dollar Baby). His diverse credits span across HBO’s Room 104, Netflix’s Dear White People, and Fox’s Scream Queens. On the cinematic front, he took on the lead role in the independent feature Ganymede. Castelblanco is represented by Stewart Talent, Creative Talent Company, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer, et al.