'Stomp the Yard' Sequel in the Works

Rob Hardy is getting ready to do some big screen krumping. According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, the writer-director has signed on to helm 'Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming,' a sequel to the smash 2007 step-dancing hit that took in $61 million at the box office.

Columbus Short, whose star has been rising since his role in the original 'Stomp the Yard' (he played Little Walter in 'Cadillac Records,' recently appeared in the thriller 'Whiteout' and will next be seen in the heist movie 'Armored'), is in negotiations to again star as master street dancer DJ.

Other casting is under way with filming to begin next month in Atlanta.

This will be Hardy's first stab at directing a dance flick. He wrote and directed the sex steamer 'Trois' in 2000 and the R&B saga 'The Gospel' in 2005 and executive produced the original 'Stomp.'

The film is being produced by Rainforest Films, of which Hardy is a partner, and most likely will be released via Sony's Screen Gems label, which released the original 'Stomp' as well as other Rainforest films.

No storyline for the sequel has been revealed, but since youth-oriented dance films are big box office these days ('High School Musical,' 'Step Up' and their sequels) plots can always be an afterthought to the terpsichorean action. And if Hardy can hire talented choreographer Dave Scott, who handled the dance chores on the original 'Stomp,' 'Step Up 2: The Streets' and 'Dance Flick,' he'll have a ready made hit on his hands.