In the new installment of ‘Step Up’, Emily’s father, Bill Anderson, is played by actor Peter Gallagher, currently starring on the television series “Covert Affairs.” “Peter is a song‐and‐dance man in his heart,” says Gibgot. “His first movie was ‘The Idol Maker’, and he’s a big fan of this genre. He genuinely loves these kids and believes in them. Because he’s such a wonderful actor, he elevated a character that on the page was a bit of a classic moustache‐twirling villain. It really worked to our benefit, because he made Bill Anderson a much more sympathetic character, which allows you to care about his relationship with his daughter.”

Gallagher is married to a dancer and has enormous admiration for the hard work that goes into the craft. “Dancers are extraordinary creative artists,” he says. “I don’t know anybody who works as hard as they do. They’re all about work. They never expect to get it on the first try and they’re eager to rehearse. Kathryn is certainly all of that and more.”

He adds that he is an enthusiastic supporter of the idea of creative protest. “These kids come together and express themselves in a very effective and powerful way. “The other element that makes this movie unique is the 3D,” he continues. “The special effects are the dancers, and the dances will take your breath away. Scott [Speer] has such ease with visual language, and the way he added that extra layer with the 3D is really impressive. I think fans of the movies will be really delighted. The dancing and the people are quite remarkable.”

To fill out the cast, the filmmakers returned to a popular character from ‘Step Up 3′ and gave him a prominent role in the new movie. Stephen “tWitch” Boss is back as Jason, The Mob’s special effects guy. “Everybody loved tWitch in the third movie,” says executive producer Matt Smith. “We wanted to give him a bigger part in this one. The backstory is that his character grew up with Sean and Eddy. He went up to New York and joined the Pirates in ‘Step Up 3′, but now he’s back with his old gang.” Boss’ intensity and power as a dancer make him unforgettable, says Gibgot. “You can’t take your eyes off of him. And he provides a through‐line from the last film into this.”

The actor says that his character is just an amped up version of himself. “I tinker in a bit of everything,” says Boss. “I like to figure out how stuff works. I guess I’m just a curious guy at heart and Jason is the same way. That’s how I made my way into Step Up 3 and I am thrilled they wrote me back into this one in an even bigger role.”

The filmmakers also included cameo appearances by fan favorites from earlier movies, including Mari Koda, who plays Jenny Kido, Madd Chadd Smith (Vladd) and Adam G. Savani (Moose). All three have featured performances in the film’s spectacular finale. “Moose, Vladd and Jenny are very popular characters. I think fans are going to love seeing these guys as we reveal them one by one. They each have their own little moments.”

Even the stars of the film were thrilled to see their predecessors back again. “It was great to have past cast members in that number,” says Kathryn McCormick. “They’re incredibly talented and inspiring to watch. And because they brought so much history with them, it made my experience that much richer.”

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About the author

Claudia Sondergaard
Specialised in American foreign policy media discourse, I have a real passion for media and writing and feel comfortable in subjects such as human rights, politics, environment, social issues, movies, TV and books. Reporting from Denmark. Follow me @swirlgirlversus

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