EXCLUSIVE: Starz‘s upcoming Black rodeo drama has cast 5 actors in recurring roles: John Gabriel Rodriguez (Sweet Magnolias, Fantasy Island), SteVonté Hart (Little Fires Everywhere, Bel-Air), Gabrielle Byndloss (Little Fires Everywhere, Bel-Air), Samuel-Taylor (The Summer I Turned Pretty, Only Murders in the Building), and Aaron Smalls (Candy, The Best of Enemies).
The as-yet-untitled series is infused with hip-hop swagger and country soul. The story unfolds in Southeast Texas, where rodeo isn’t just what you do – it’s who you are. At the center are three siblings bound by the legacy their mother built and the unfinished business their father left behind. Driven by their own ambitions and drawn into each other’s orbit, alliances shift, relationships tangle, and nothing stays private for long.
Rodriguez will play Francisco Morales. Seductively confident and effortlessly polished, Francisco is the CEO of Morales Timber Company, a respected family business with shady ties. Educated, strategic, and always several moves ahead, Francisco is slow to anger, but dangerous when pushed too far.
Hart will play Langston. Langston is tough, talented, and loyal to a fault. By day, he works the rodeo as a clown. By night, he tends bar at the Likka Lounge for Rodney. Beneath the daily grind is a gifted musician and producer who could be exactly what aspiring local rapper Jojo has been waiting for.
Byndloss joins as Crystal, a radio personality for Trinity City’s local station, and she moonlights as a DJ and announcer for the rodeo – often keeping her in close quarters with Sebastian.
Samuel-Taylor joins as Ivan Robinson. Brash, tirelessly hard-working and ambitious, Ivan is one of the top bull riders at the rodeo. He’s battling a nasty groin injury and self-medicating. Ivan has his sights on the National Bull Riding League Team Series, which puts him at odds with Julius and Playboy Ray.
Smalls joins as Hakeem. Well-dressed, smart and a sucker for love, Hakeem is the owner of Boots & Lace and Rodney’s problematic on-again, off-again hookup.
The previously announced cast includes DeWanda Wise as Anaya Clarke-Reagan, Shannon Wallace as Sebastian Clarke, Tian Richards as Rodney Clarke, Curtiss Cook as Elias Clarke, Lauren E. Banks as Wynter, Marcus Emanuel Mitchell as Julius Calhoun, Liv Symone as Jojo Calhoun, and Jason Dirden as Greg Reagan.
Kirk A. Moore is showrunner and executive producer. Mark Johnson and Myki Bajaj of Gran Via Productions, and Tony Hernandez, Elise Henderson and Lilly Burns of Counterpart Studios also serve as executive producers. Giovanna Desselle, VP of Original Programming, and Christina Jokanovich, SVP of Original Programming, are the executives overseeing the series for Starz.
Rodriguez is repped by Haven Entertainment and Buchwald. Hart is repped by Buchwald and Amplified. Byndloss is repped by Atlanta Models & Talent, Madhouse Talent Management, and BRS/Gage. Samuel-Taylor is repped by Alexander White Agency and Prime Talent Media. Smalls is repped by Alexander White Agency and Menace Management.
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