Deadline is exclusively reporting that Taj Cross is the latest name to join the cast of NBC’s Young Rock, a comedy series based on the childhood of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

The series is said to chronicle Johnson’s “formative years”, in which he would spend his High School years in Honolulu before moving the country music capital of Nashville, Tennessee, where he was arrested multiple times for fighting, theft and check fraud before the age of seventeen. It was revealed that Johnson will appear in every episode of the show.

Taj Cross (whose solo credit is PEN15) will have a recurring role as Gabe, fifteen-year-old Dwayne’s best friend and partner in crime. He’s enthusiastic, quick with an opinion, and ready for adventure, although he prefers ones that involve cars, beers or girls.

The series is developed by Nahnatchka Khan, who co-write the pilot with Jeff Chiang. The duo also executive produce alongside Johnson under the Seven Bucks Productions banner, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Brian Gewirtz and Jennifer Carreras of Fierce Baby Productions.

Taj Cross will join a cast that includes Adrian Groulx, Bradley Constant, Uli Latukefu, Stacey Leilua, Joseph Lee Anderson and Ana Tuisila.

Young Rock will premiere on NBC on the 16th February 2021.