By Lori Perkins
This romance movie lover’s fav (definitely NOT a rom com) is going to have a sequel 35 years after it was made. And Jennifer Grey, who played the main character of Frances “Baby” Houseman, a teenager who finds her voice through making her own decisions about her sexuality and taking care of the people she loves (yes, let’s NEVER forget that this IS a movie with abortion as one of the central plot points) will be in it. She’s actually one of the producers.
The movie is slated for release some time in 2024, but we know little else except that the team is in negotiations with Patrick Swayze’s estate to use digital images of the actor who died of pancreatic cancer more than a decade ago.
Lionsgate is the production company and the new film will also be titled Dirty Dancing. Jonathan Levine, the filmmaker behind the comedy Long Shot and tearjerker 50/50, is the director and co-wrote the screenplay with Elizabeth Chomko.
Levine explained to Variety, “While the original Dirty Dancing has always been one of my favorite films, I never imagined I would direct the sequel. Through co-writing it, I fell in love with the characters (new and old), the world of 1990s Catskills New York, and the music, which will range from songs from the original movie to ‘90s hip-hop. I can’t wait to collaborate with Jennifer to bring this beautiful story of summer and romance and dancing to a generation of new fans. And to the longtime ones, I promise we will not ruin your childhood. We will tackle the assignment with sophistication, ambition, and, above all, love.”
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