Yeehaw! Fox’s “Urban Cowboy” has set “UnREAL” star Nathalie Kelley as its female lead. The project also cast “Carrie Diaries” alum Lindsey Gort.
Kelley will pretty much play Debra Winger‘s part from the 1980 movie, which starred John Travolta — though Winger’s Sissy is now called Gaby. As previously reported, Alfonso Herrera will essentially take on Travolta’s role of Bud — now Kyle — in the modern reimagining, which will have a Latin-music twist.
Gort signs on as Pam, the beautiful daughter of one of Houston’s most powerful families. She’ll be a foil for Gaby, as Pam also commands Kyle’s romantic attention.
Also co-starring in the pilot are Bryana Salaz as Kyle’s sister, Edward James Olmos as his father, and Jim Belushi as Gaby’s father.
Here is the description of the potential series: “Urban Cowboy” follows star-crossed young lovers Kyle (Herrera) and Gaby (Kelley) as they pursue their dreams and passions through the sweat of line dancing in honky tonks, the grime of the oil refineries and the glamour of modern Texas. It’s about family legacies, starting over, finding true love and the American dream.
Gaby is the gorgeous, feisty, independent minded, bright and resourceful daughter of Marshall (Belushi), the owner of Gilley’s, a super-popular Houston honkey-tonk. Currently studying immigration law in Dallas and recently engaged to an attorney, Gaby returns home to Houston for a brief time, stunned to learn of her father’s failing health and the past taxes owed on the business.
Determined to turn things around, she is given carte-blanche by her dad who knows Gaby has what it takes to shore up the bar. In the meantime, sparks begin to fly between Gaby and Kyle (Herrera), a popular rodeo circuit rider who is a puppet for the drug cartel, forced to flee his native Mexico after ticking off the wrong people.
Fox’s pilot is being written, directed and executive produced by Craig Brewer. Robert Evans — who produced the movie — also gets an exec producer credit, alongside Sue Naegle and Chris Levinson.
“Urban Cowboy” is a Paramount TV and 20th Century Fox TV production.