Dirty Dancing sequel to be directed by Jonathan Levine with Jennifer Grey reprising her role

It’s a good thing that no one put Baby in a corner because another Dirty Dancing movie is about to cut a rug. Today, Deadline announced that Jonathan Levine (Warm Bodies, Long Shot) would direct the upcoming Dirty Dancing sequel. Lionsgate is bringing the concept to the Cannes market next week, where it will entertain studio partners on the dance floor.

In the Dirty Dancing sequel, Jennifer Grey will reprise her iconic role of Frances “Baby” Houseman as she returns to Kellerman’s in the 1990s. Like the original, the sequel will be a coming-of-age romance centered on a young woman’s experience at the summer camp, but Baby’s journey will intertwine with this to create a multi-layered narrative.

Levine co-writes the sequel, called Dirty Dancing, with Elizabeth Chomko. The team already has a shortlist of actors for starring roles, with production expected to start later this year for a 2024 release.

While no other actors have been named, the Dirty Dancing sequel could see more actors from the original reprising their respective roles. “We are about to talk to people and are exploring that,” said Levine. “The most important thing for us was having Jennifer on board. She is an invaluable collaborator. We’re going to try to involve as many people from the original as is appropriate. We want to be respectful in every way,” Levine added.

Including characters from the original film also involves speaking with Patrick Swayze’s estate. “Johnny is a part of Baby’s journey in the story,” Levine noted. “This film exists in a dialogue with the original. We want to introduce this story to a whole new generation. That said, Johnny’s absence looms large over the story, so it’s a coming-of-age story but also a coming-of-age for Baby’s character in a way.”

Levine hopes to include songs from the original film for the soundtrack, including “Hungry Eyes” by Eric Carmen. Other pieces will be inspired by ’90s hip-hop, with musical artists like Alanis Morisette and Liz Phair also in the mix to appear.

“While the original Dirty Dancing has always been one of my favorite films, I never imagined I would direct the sequel,” said Levine. “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.”

What do you think about Levine tackling a Dirty Dancing sequel? Do you have any love for the original? Dirty Dancing is one of my sister’s favorite films, so it played none-stop in my house back in the day. It will be interesting to see how Levine and Chomko approach the characters and story for the new film.