'Dirty Dancing' Sequel in the Works With Jennifer Grey Reprising Her Iconic Role

Audiences watched as two unlikely people from different social backgrounds fell in love thanks to dance and one hot summer. Lionsgate announced their planned Dirty Dancingsequel is moving forward, with original star Jennifer Grey returning as Frances “Baby” Houseman

According to The Hollywood Reporter, producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson will be in charge of the project that is expected to begin filming later this year. Dying for Sex writer Kim Rosenstock is also on board to pen the script.

The sequel installment was previously announced with Grey serving as its executive producer, and confirms she will reprise her iconic role as Baby. For now, it’s unclear how the second installment will address Patrick Swayze‘s character, Johnny Castle, with the late actor’s death in 2009.

“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!” said Grey in a statement.

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Details on what the new film’s storyline will be about are also under wraps for now, with Jacobson commenting on their excitement to be “invited back to Kellerman’s for one more dance.”

Dirty Dancing premiered in 1987, focusing on Baby as she’s one summer away from joining the Peace Corps. She finds herself stuck as a sleepy resort in the Castskills with her family, until meeting dance instructor Johnny. When his dance partner is unable to perform at another resport and possibly cost them their salary, Baby volunteers. It starts a heated and somewhat forbidden romance fueled by the passion of dance.

For now, a director has not been announced for the sequel installment, with Jonathan Levine having been previously attached to the project and will instead serve as an executive producer. Lionsgate has also not revealed its new cast.

It appears the new project will officially be titled as a sequal to the original, seeing as there was a new installment titled Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights that release in 2024.