Could a Dirty Dancing sequel be in the works?

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

dirty dancing Jennifer grey

Proving once again that nobody puts Baby in a corner, Deadline is reporting that Jennifer Grey has signed on to star in and executive produce a new dance movie at Lionsgate, with the buzz being that it's actually a new DIRTY DANCING movie. 

Fans will will remember that years ago, they tried to spin-off the franchise with DIRTY DANCING: HAVANA NIGHTS (for which Patrick Swayze apparently got a cool $5 million just to make a cameo as a dance teacher), and it was remade for TV a few years ago for ABC. However, this would be the first legit DIRTY DANCING sequel (although I do vaguely remember my sister forcing me to watch a lame TV spin-off series with a faux Swayze as a kid), and truth be told, it makes perfect sense. DIRTY DANCING has always had a massive following and is known for being one of the most valuable titles in Lionsgate's library, so why not catch up with Baby thirty five years later? Heck, shave a few years off and set it the same year the original film came out, in 1987. Then you can have a sweet eighties soundtrack. 

According to Deadline, "the new dance film is being shepherded by Megamix’s Jonathan Levine and Gillian Bohrer with a screenplay by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis (Five Feet Apart, The Curse of La LLorona)."

Of course, the catch is that one half of the original film's power couple will naturally be absent, with Patrick Swayze having tragically passed away years ago after a brave battle with cancer. Hopefully, if this news is legit and a DIRTY DANCING movie happens, they'll pay tribute to Swayze/Johnny Castle. But, while we're talking about LEGIT sequels to Patrick Swayze movies, here's my pitch. A sequel to POINT BREAK centered around Johnny Utah. Think about it. He could be the new Bodhi. The ending always suggested he went rogue. It would kick so much ass, especially if Kathryn Bigelow directed it. I'm sure Keanu Reeves would be down. That remake was straight-up GARBAGE! Ugh – I'm mad now. Here's some soothing Swayze to calm us all down. 

Source: Deadline

About the Author

Chris Bumbray began his career with JoBlo as the resident film critic (and James Bond expert) way back in 2007, and he has stuck around ever since, being named editor-in-chief in 2021. A voting member of the CCA and a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, you can also catch Chris discussing pop culture regularly on CTV News Channel.