Hollywood is so entrenched in their IP obsession that they somehow believe a “Dirty Dancing” sequel, starring Jennifer Grey, now 65, will hit pay dirt.
That’s what Lionsgate just greenlit — announced this afternoon to bewilderment. I sure hope Grey isn’t leading this film and that some younger blood takes over, but it sounds like she will be the main actress as production is set to begin later this year. For obvious reasons, Patrick Swayze will not be returning.
There is still no director attached, as Jonathan Levine (“50/50”), who was previously set to helm, has wisely distanced himself and is now only taking a producing credit. Kim Rosenstock (“Glow,” “Dying For Sex”) wrote the script.
The original, released almost 40 years ago, was set in the summer of 1963, following Frances “Baby” Houseman, a young woman who falls in love with Johnny Castle, a dance instructor at her family’s vacation resort. Baby learns to dance and discovers independence, passion, and growth through her steamy romance.
Released in 1987, “Dirty Dancing” grossed $214M worldwide, which would amount to around $540M today if we take inflation into account. However, its true popularity exploded on home video. The film became a cultural phenomenon in the late 1980s and 1990s as millions of VHS copies were sold and rented, fueled by its iconic dance scenes and soundtrack.
A “sequel” of sorts, “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” was released in 2004, following a young American woman who falls in love with a local Cuban dancer (Diego Luna) amid political unrest. The movie was a financial and critical flop: it had a production budget of around $25M but grossed only about $5.8M worldwide.
Of course, this just-announced sequel has Jennifer Grey in it, but quite honestly, can she alone drive ticket sales? Of course not. Grey needs some young actors to accompany her on this latest film, and I hope that’s what will be happening here.