Deadline is reporting that Big Time Rush alum Carlos PenaVega has been cast a series regular in The CW’s cancer dramedy pilot Life Sentence. He’ll be playing Darrius, an extremely positive, family-oriented pharmaceutical rep who met his wife while her sister was in the hospital getting cancer treatment.
Created by Richard Keith and Erin Cardillo (Significant Mother), Life Sentence follows Stella (Lucy Hale), a young woman who gets the news that she’s no longer dying of cancer. What should be an immensely emotional experience for her, this opportunity at a second chance at life, is negated by how she chose to spend (what she thought were) her remaining days on Earth. Now that she’s got a clean bill of health, Stella must learn to live with the choices she made and embrace the spirit in which they were made.
In addition to his role in the Nickelodeon comedy, PenaVega has appeared on Grease: Live, The Thundermans, and Instant Mom. He joins a cast that includes the likes of Gillian Vigman (Suburgatory), Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck), and Jayson Blair (Young & Hungry).
Life Sentence is one of six CW pilots in contention for 2017-18, joining fantasy drama Searchers, DC-verse entrant Black Lightning, beauty pageant drama Insatiable, soapy reboot Dynasty, and military conspiracy thriller Valor. Decisions on which pilots will be made into full series should come down in early May.