Nearly four decades after ‘Dirty Dancing’ captured hearts, a sequel to the 1987 film has been announced, and Jennifer Grey, who starred as Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman opposite the late Patrick Swayze, will be making a comeback. The long-awaited sequel to the film was announced on Tuesday, January 27, with an aim to begin production later this year.The original ‘Dirty Dancing,’ released on August 21, 1987, was an iconic film depicting the romance between Baby and dance instructor Johnny Castle at Kellerman’s resort in the 1960s.
Jennifer Grey expresses her curiosity for ‘Dirty Dancing’ sequel
Jennifer Grey shared her own reflections on returning to her iconic role, expressing a deep emotional connection to Baby and her journey. In a press release, she revealed her curiosity about Baby’s life years down the line and how meaningful it has been to collaborate with a team that respects the legacy of the original film. “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.” The 65-year-old added, “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.”
The spark Patrick Swayze brought to the screen will be missing.
Patrick Swayze, who played Johnny Castle in the original ‘Dirty Dancing,’ passed away due to pancreatic cancer in 2009 at age 57. Jenifer Grey noted the film wouldn’t be able to recapture the spark her co-star brought to the screen. “All I can say is there is no replacing anyone who’s passed,” she told People in 2020, when the involvement of the sequel was confirmed. “You never try to repeat anything that’s magic like that. You just go for something different,” she added.
How fans are feeling about ‘Dirty Dancing’ sequel
Fan reaction on social media shared a sense of disinterest in the upcoming sequel. Some pointed out that the sequel will only strip away the originality that made the film special. One Reddit user wrote, “Please no. The original movie is wonderful, messy, and full of heart. And it was cobbled together with main actors who hated each other, a minimal budget, a short shooting time, and a bunch of mishaps on set. Anything they make now would more than likely be some overly glossy, sad attempt at recapturing that magic.” Some also pointed out how Patrick Swayze won’t be a part of it anymore.
