There are certain movies that many believe really do not need a sequel, prequel, or reboot. Many fans would say that one such movie isDirty Dancing, the 80s classic that boasts a hit soundtrack and dozens of iconic lines and images that have lived on for almost forty years without needing a sequel to come along and spoil it all. However, we have already had a prequel movie in the form of the direDirty Dancing: Havana Nights, and a made for TV ABC musical remake, then in 2020 came the announcement that original star of the movieJennifer Greywould be reprising the role of Frances in a direct sequel. Now the actress has been giving an update on exactly what is happening withDirty Dancing 2.
The originalDirty Dancingwas released in 1987 and starred Patrick Swayze as charismatic dance instructor Johnny Castle, who becomes the love interest of Frances “Baby” Houseman over the course of the movie. As well as being the highest-grossing movie of the year,Dirty Dancingcreated one of the most iconic cinema quotes of the decade with the line “Nobody puts Baby in the corner” and one of the movie replicated dance routines ever put on screen. So is it pretty much impossible to do it again, without Swayze and with such a well-loved original to stand up to? Grey recently spoke toPeoplewhile promoting her memoir, and seemed to concede that the sequel can never be the same as the original, but will hopefully bring something memorable to new audiences. She said:
“It was lightning in a bottle, it’s like this thing happened, and it’s so beautiful, and I can’t explain it. No one can explain it. We’re working on this sequel, I’m working on it with Lionsgate and working on the script. We’ve been working on it for a couple of years. And I know in my heart, I would love to give fans or a young, new audience an experience that would never replicate that, but has the same kind of underpinnings.”
Related:Dirty Dancing 2 Won’t Replace Patrick Swayze Promises Original Star Jennifer Grey
Dirty Dancing Was A Basic Story Elevated By The Chemistry of Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey
The mid to late 1980s has become the perfect hunting ground for studios looking to reboot or revive some of their biggest hits. As seems to be the case with Hollywood, these movies are in the 30-40-year-old bracket which seems to make it OK for a new version of the story to be created for new cinema audiences. With many streaming platforms also needing new content, that has also led to the same kind of interest being shown in movies such asDirty Dancingto adapt them into TV shows.
WhileDirty Dancing 2will be a direct sequel, and featuring Jennifer Grey in her original role will add a legacy connection to the original, there is little doubt that fans ofDirty Dancingwill not get exactly the same rush as they did when Patrick Swayze shook his hips in 1987. However, if the new film makes it to screens, there is every chance it will cause at least a few of those cinema newcomers to go and hunt out the original film and really keep the magic alive.
