The $100 Million Reunion: Where The 'Reba' Cast Is Now And The Shocking Plot Of The Cancelled Reboot

The beloved sitcom Reba, which ran from 2001 to 2007, remains one of the most quotable and cherished family comedies of the early 2000s. The show’s enduring popularity has fueled constant speculation about a revival, and while a full reboot hasn't materialized, the cast has been busier than ever in late 2024 and 2025, most notably with a massive on-screen reunion on a brand-new NBC sitcom. From major career shifts to a shocking, recently revealed plot for the cancelled seventh season, the lives of the Hart family actors—Reba McEntire, JoAnna García Swisher, Steve Howey, and the rest—are a fascinating mix of new projects and nostalgic collaborations.

The biggest news for fans in 2025 is the highly anticipated second season of the new NBC sitcom, Happy's Place, which serves as an unofficial Reba reunion. The series features country music superstar Reba McEntire and her former co-star Melissa Peterman (Barbra Jean), with reports also confirming that JoAnna García Swisher (Cheyenne) will be joining the fun. This flurry of activity, combined with the recent revelation of the planned plot for a full-scale Reba revival, proves that the cast is firmly back in the spotlight.

The Complete 'Reba' Cast: Where Are They Now? (2025 Update)

The core cast of Reba has branched out into major network shows, streaming hits, and new creative ventures. Here is a look at the biographical profiles and the latest projects for the actors who brought the Hart family to life.

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• Reba McEntire (Reba Hart)
  • Born: March 28, 1955 (Age 70)
  • Role on Reba: The witty, strong-willed matriarch and single mother.
  • Post-Reba Highlights: Continued her legendary country music career, starred in the sitcom Malibu Country, served as a coach on The Voice, and starred in the Lifetime movie The Hammer.
  • Latest Projects (2024/2025): Stars in and executive produces the new NBC sitcom, Happy's Place, alongside Melissa Peterman (Season 2 expected Fall 2025). She is also set to star in and produce a film adaptation of Fannie Flagg's novel, The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion, and launched a new "Nearly Home" campaign with Realtor.com in 2025.
• Christopher Rich (Brock Hart)
  • Born: September 16, 1953 (Age 71)
  • Role on Reba: Reba's ex-husband, a dentist who left her for Barbra Jean.
  • Post-Reba Highlights: Continued his recurring role as attorney Melvin Palmer on Boston Legal and appeared in various TV movies and series.
  • Latest Projects (2024/2025): Rich has credited Reba McEntire with "dragging" him back into acting for a new project after a health scare, suggesting a potential reunion outside of the already confirmed Happy's Place cast members.
• Melissa Peterman (Barbra Jean Booker Hart)
  • Born: July 1, 1971 (Age 53)
  • Role on Reba: Brock’s ditzy but lovable second wife, Reba’s rival-turned-friend.
  • Post-Reba Highlights: Starred in the sitcom Baby Daddy, hosted the game show Bet on Your Baby, and appeared on McEntire’s show Malibu Country.
  • Latest Projects (2024/2025): Co-stars with Reba McEntire in Happy's Place on NBC, playing the role of Gabby. The second season is one of the most anticipated sitcom returns of 2025.
• JoAnna García Swisher (Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery)
  • Born: August 10, 1979 (Age 45)
  • Role on Reba: Reba's eldest daughter, a pregnant teenager who married her high school boyfriend, Van.
  • Post-Reba Highlights: Cultivated a highly successful career, starring in Privileged, Once Upon a Time, and the popular Netflix series Sweet Magnolias. She also hosted The Ultimatum: Queer Love.
  • Latest Projects (2024/2025): She is currently filming the fifth season of the hit Netflix series Sweet Magnolias and was an executive producer on the series Providence Falls. She has also reportedly reunited with Reba on the set of Happy's Place, sparking excitement for a three-way reunion.
• Steve Howey (Van Montgomery)
  • Born: July 12, 1977 (Age 47)
  • Role on Reba: Cheyenne’s husband, a former high school football player who became a successful dental hygienist.
  • Post-Reba Highlights: Best known for his long-running role as Kevin Ball on the acclaimed Showtime series Shameless.
  • Latest Projects (2024/2025): Howey is set to star as the new captain, Jesse Wagner, in the second season of the ABC drama High Potential. He will also appear in Amazon’s upcoming college-set romantic drama, Off Campus, and in a recurring guest star role on Ransom Canyon Season 2.
• Scarlett Pomers (Kyra Hart)
  • Born: November 28, 1988 (Age 36)
  • Role on Reba: The sarcastic, middle daughter who often delivered the show's best zingers.
  • Post-Reba Highlights: Took a step back from acting to focus on recovery and other creative pursuits, including music with her band, SCARLETT, and filmmaking.
  • Latest Projects (2024/2025): After largely retiring from Hollywood, Pomers is set to make a rare acting return, appearing in a short film in 2025.
• Mitch Holleman (Jake Hart)
  • Born: September 13, 1994 (Age 30)
  • Role on Reba: The youngest child of Reba and Brock.
  • Post-Reba Highlights: Continued voice acting and appeared in a few independent films and TV projects after the show ended. He often engages with fans about his time as a child star on the series.

The Shocking, Never-Before-Seen Plot of the Cancelled 'Reba' Revival

For years, fans have hoped for a full-scale Reba revival, especially after the original series was abruptly cancelled in 2007. While a reboot has not officially moved forward, showrunner Kevin Abbott recently revealed the detailed plot of what a Season 7 or a revival would have looked like, and it’s a massive curiosity-based reveal for fans.

The cancelled revival would have picked up in real-time, meaning the characters would have aged to their true ages in 2025. The core premise centered on the family dealing with the challenges of their adult lives and the inevitable pull back to Houston, Texas.

Key plot points revealed by Abbott included:

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• Reba Hart’s New Life: Reba would have been happily remarried. However, her new husband would be a source of immediate conflict, as he would be a man Brock Hart absolutely could not stand. This setup would have preserved the classic love-triangle dynamic, replacing Brock's jealousy of Barbra Jean with a new rivalry.
• Cheyenne and Van’s Struggles: Cheyenne Hart and Van Montgomery, who were always financially stable by the end of the original series, would have been "struggling" in the revival. This would have forced them to move back in with Reba, creating a classic sitcom setup of adult children returning home.
• Brock and Barbra Jean’s Fate: Melissa Peterman and Kevin Abbott both agreed that Brock and Barbra Jean would likely still be together, though they might be "struggling" financially or emotionally in their later years, perhaps offering a parallel to Cheyenne and Van's issues.
• Kyra and Jake’s Roles: Kyra Hart would have been a successful but cynical young professional, and Jake Hart would have been a young adult navigating his own career, likely adding new, modern comedic elements to the family chaos.

While this revival plot never came to fruition, it has offered fans a glimpse into the creative direction the series would have taken, focusing on the generational shift and the evolving relationships between the core family members.

The 'Happy's Place' Reunion: The New Home of the Hart Family Spirit

Despite the cancelled full reboot, the spirit of the Reba cast is alive and well in the new NBC sitcom, Happy's Place, which is a major television event of 2024/2025. The series marks a significant professional reunion for Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman, who played the iconic rivals Reba and Barbra Jean.

In Happy's Place, McEntire stars as Bobbie, who inherits her late father's restaurant and is none too pleased to discover she must now co-manage it with a sister she never knew she had (played by Peterman). The dynamic is intentionally reminiscent of the comedic friction and eventual friendship between Reba and Barbra Jean, providing the same kind of heart and humor that made the original show a hit.

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The reunion has grown even larger with the news that JoAnna García Swisher has joined the cast, marking a significant on-screen gathering of three of the show's most beloved female stars. This development has led many to view Happy's Place not just as a new sitcom, but as a spiritual successor or soft-reboot of the Reba universe, satisfying the long-held desire of fans for more content featuring their favorite cast members. The show is expected to return for its second season in the fall of 2025, solidifying the cast's major television presence this year.

From Sitcom Star to Major Drama: Steve Howey’s Continued Success

While Reba, Melissa Peterman, and JoAnna García Swisher are reuniting on NBC and Netflix, Steve Howey, who played the lovable, dim-witted but well-meaning Van Montgomery, is having a massive year in the world of drama and action. After his acclaimed 11-season run as Kevin Ball on Shameless, Howey has successfully transitioned to prominent roles across multiple major networks.

His casting as Captain Jesse Wagner in the second season of the ABC drama High Potential shows his continued ability to land high-profile roles. Furthermore, his involvement in the Amazon series Off Campus and Ransom Canyon Season 2 ensures that Howey remains one of the busiest and most versatile actors to emerge from the original Reba cast. His career trajectory from a comedic sidekick on a family sitcom to a leading man in major network dramas is a testament to his talent and hard work.

The continued success and high-profile projects of the entire Reba cast—from the major reunion on Happy's Place to Howey's dramatic turns and Swisher's streaming dominance—demonstrate that the chemistry and talent that made the original show a hit are still very much in demand across the entertainment industry in 2025.