Christina Milian to replace late Naya Rivera in Starz’s Step Up series after tragic boating death

Christina Milian to replace Naya Rivera in Starz series Step Up with blessing from late star’s family seven months after tragic boating death

Christina Milian will replace the late Naya Rivera in series Step Up seven months after her tragic boating death.

The Lionsgate TV production had consulted with the family of Rivera before casting Milian, 39, to replace her in the scripted series according to The Hollywood Reporter on Monday. 

Milian will take over Rivera’s character Collette who she played in the first two seasons of the spin-off from the film franchise of the same name. 

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Star: Naya Rivera seen in LA back in November 2019

Sad: Christina Milian will replace the late Naya Rivera in series Step Up seven months after her tragic boating death

Big shoes to fill: Milian will take over Rivera's character Collette who she played in the first two seasons of the spin-off from the film franchise of the same name

Big shoes to fill: Milian will take over Rivera’s character Collette who she played in the first two seasons of the spin-off from the film franchise of the same name

Step Up series creator and executive producer Holly Sorenson said in a statement: ‘Naya’s death was a terrible loss to our world that we will, frankly, never stop mourning.

‘It was almost impossible to consider there could be someone so graceful and loving who could both help us honor our loss, while also bringing a deep reservoir of talent to our show, in so many areas. Christina is an exceptional human and a dazzling performer and we are so happy she has joined our family.’ 

According to sources for the publication, production had considered all their options when it came to how they should move forward following Rivera’s tragic death

Gone too soon: Rivera ( seen in May 2019) passed away during a boating trip with son Josey, who was four-years-old at the time, on Lake Piru in Ventura County, north-east of Los Angeles, back in July

Gone too soon: Rivera ( seen in May 2019) passed away during a boating trip with son Josey, who was four-years-old at the time, on Lake Piru in Ventura County, north-east of Los Angeles, back in July

'Christina is an exceptional human and a dazzling performer and we are so happy she has joined our family':  Step Up series creator and executive producer Holly Sorenson said in a statement

‘Christina is an exceptional human and a dazzling performer and we are so happy she has joined our family’:  Step Up series creator and executive producer Holly Sorenson said in a statement

As it is a serialized production the call was ultimately made to recast her role with the blessing of her family of course.

The series – previously known as Step Up: High Water – tells the story of students and teachers at High Water Performing Arts School in Atlanta. 

Milian is definitely excited about the opportunity as she shared a selfie video of herself wearing a face mask on her Instagram Story on Monday.

She appeared to be sitting in her trailer in the video captioned: ‘Life on set these days.’ 

Interesting: The series - previously known as Step Up: High Water - tells the story of students and teachers at High Water Performing Arts School in Atlanta

Interesting: The series – previously known as Step Up: High Water – tells the story of students and teachers at High Water Performing Arts School in Atlanta

Rivera passed away during a boating trip with son Josey, who was four-years-old at the time, on Lake Piru in Ventura County, north-east of Los Angeles, back in July. 

Her body was recovered five days after she went missing and the coroner ruled her death as ‘accidental drowning’. 

 Last month, Josey’s dad and Naya’s ex-husband Ryan Dorsey was among those who paid tribute to the star on what would have been her 34th birthday.

'Life on set these days..': Milian is definitely excited about the opportunity as she shared a selfie video of herself wearing a face mask on her Instagram Story on Monday

‘Life on set these days..’: Milian is definitely excited about the opportunity as she shared a selfie video of herself wearing a face mask on her Instagram Story on Monday

The actor, 37, was married to the Glee star from 2014 to 2018 and is now raising their son Josey, five, as a single father following her death this past July.

Sharing a photo of himself and Rivera with their child, Dorsey wrote on Instagram: ‘Just as surreal as it is real that you’re gone. If that makes sense, but none of this still makes any sense…34, I could just hear you saying ‘Ah, I’m old AF now!’ Ha…Rest easy old lady.’

Several former Glee stars also took to social media to remember the actress, who starred as Santana on all six seasons of the musical TV show. 

Missed: Ryan Dorsey paid a sweet tribute to his late ex-wife Naya on what would have been her 34th birthday last month, sharing a photo of the two with their son Josey, now five

Missed: Ryan Dorsey paid a sweet tribute to his late ex-wife Naya on what would have been her 34th birthday last month, sharing a photo of the two with their son Josey, now five

Loss: The actor, 37, was married to the Glee star from 2014 to 2018 and is now raising their child as a single father following her death this past July

Loss: The actor, 37, was married to the Glee star from 2014 to 2018 and is now raising their child as a single father following her death this past July

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