As part of its expansion into original TV programming, YouTube is teaming up with Lionsgate to bring the Step Up franchise to the small screen with Step Up: High Water, and Variety is reporting that singer-songwriter and actor Ne-Yo is set to lead the cast alongside Naya Rivera (Glee) and Faizon Love (Couples Retreat).
The series focuses on a group of ambitious young dancers at Atlanta’s famed High Water Performing Arts School, led by Sage Odom (Ne-Yo). Also featuring in the cast are Lauryn McClain (Daddy’s Little Girls), Petrice Jones (iBoy), Marcus Mitchell (High Strung), Jade Chynoweth (The Last Ship), Carlito Olivero (Bad Samaritan), Terrence Green (Being Mary Jane), R. Marcos Taylor (Baby Driver), and newcomers Eric Graise and Kendra Oyesanya.
The ten episode series has been created by showrunner Holly Sorenson (Recovery Road), who will also executive produce with Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot and Meredith Milton, producers of the Step Up movies, and Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan Tatum, stars of the original film. Original songs for the series will be created by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jason “PooBear” Boyd and “Jingle” Jared Gutstadt.
