Jennifer Grey Returns to the Dance Floor as a DIRTY DANCING 2 Finally Moves Forward

Dirty Dancing is officially heading back to the Catskills, and yes, Jennifer Grey is returning to the role that made her a pop culture icon. After years of starts and stops, Lionsgate is moving forward with a sequel that will once again put Frances “Baby” Houseman at the center of the story, this time reflecting on where life has taken her decades after that unforgettable summer at Kellerman’s.

The studio has lined up an impressive creative team to bring this new chapter to life. Lionsgate has enlisted veteran producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, best known for steering The Hunger Games franchise and Crazy Rich Asians, to oversee the project.

Writing duties will fall to Kim Rosenstock, an Emmy and Golden Globe nominee and 2025 Humanitas Prize winner whose recent work includes Dying for Sex. Production is currently being eyed for later this year.

Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a statement: “Dirty Dancing remains as beloved today as it was upon its initial release, and we knew that a very special group of people would have to come together for fans to embrace a return to Kellerman’s.

“We are beyond thrilled to announce we have assembled the perfect team to carry this film forward in partnership with Jennifer Grey,” Fogelson said.

He added, “There are no better producers for this movie than our longtime partners and friends Nina and Brad from The Hunger Games, and we could not be more excited to have Kim coming on board to write.

“With this super team now in place, we are moving full steam ahead so that both existing fans and new audiences can discover the magic, the music and the emotion that is Dirty Dancing in a new theatrical film meant for the big screen.”

Released in 1987, Dirty Dancing became a phenomenon almost overnight. Set in the Catskills, the film followed Baby’s romance with dance instructor Johnny Castle, played by Patrick Swayze, and went on to earn more than $214 million worldwide.

In 2024, the movie was officially selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, cementing its place in film history.

The franchise expanded into a short-lived TV series, reality competition shows, a 2004 prequel titled Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, a stage production, and a made-for-TV musical adaptation in 2017. Still, bringing Baby back in a true sequel has always been the dream.

That idea was first announced in 2020, with Grey attached to star and executive produce. Plans for a 2024 release were pushed back due to the Hollywood strikes, and original director Jonathan Levine has since shifted into an executive producer role. Now, with the creative pieces finally in place, the project is back on track.

Grey said in a statement: “The role of Baby has held a very deep and meaningful place in my heart, as it has in the hearts of so many fans over the years.

“I’ve long wondered where we might find Baby years later and what her life might be like, but it’s taken time to assemble the kind of people that I felt could be entrusted to build on the legacy of the original film… and I’m excited to say that it looks like the wait will soon be over!”

Jacobson echoed that emotional pull while speaking on behalf of herself and Simpson. “’Dirty Dancing’ is that rare film that is as emotional, exhilarating, and rebellious today as it was the year it was released,” she said.

“To be able to work with Jennifer Grey and Lionsgate on the sequel is a genuine joy for Brad and me. We feel so fortunate to have been invited back to Kellerman’s for one more dance.”

Jacobson and Simpson are currently busy producing The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which is set to hit theaters on November 20, and they’re also executive producers on Ryan Murphy’s upcoming FX series Love Story: John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. Rosenstock, meanwhile, continues to build an impressive resume that includes Only Murders in the Building, GLOW, Single Parents, and New Girl.

With Grey back in the spotlight, a respected writing voice shaping the story, and a seasoned production team guiding the process, this Dirty Dancing sequel is a chance to see how Baby’s story has evolved.

Source: Variety