Hot on the dancing heels of the news that Dirty Dancing 2 will be heading into production with original star Jennifer Grey reprising her role as Frances “Baby” Houseman, comes the revelation that the actress would love to see former One Direction singer and Dunkirk star Harry Styles join her in the movie. A direct sequel to the 1987 movie that starred Grey alongside Patrick Swayze, the film has been in the works for a number of years but only now seems to be moving forward to being another romantic musical movie to cinemas.
Earlier this month the film finally got a double boost, with an official announcement from Lionsgate, and the arrival of Warm Bodies helmer Jonathan Levine as director. Grey has been attached to the project since it was originally announced in 2020, not only as the star but also being part of the scriptwriting process. Although the actress admitted in previous comments that she doesn’t not expect the movie to be as successful as its predecessor, she does hope to create a meaningful movie that a whole new generation can call their own.
Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show, Grey was asked who, if given the choice, she would like to see starring in the movie alongside her. While the actress started off jokingly calling him by another name, she eventually led Barrymore to exactly who she was talking about. The exchange went:
"Barrymore: Who do you think should be the next inappropriate match for Baby?
Grey: What about Shmarry Shmiles? Somebody who rhymes with Shmarry Shmiles.
Barrymore: HARRY STYLES! YES!"
Dirty Dancing 2 Needs To Capture the Heart of the Original to Have A Chance of Success.
In 1987, audiences fell in love with charismatic dance instructor Johnny Castle, played by Patrick Swayze, as he gyrated his way into the life of Frances Houseman. As the highest grossing movie of the year, and one of the most iconic of the decade, it is no surprise that the film spawned a prequel movie, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights and a musical remake made for TV. However, the new sequel has the benefit of bringing back Grey, but it still has to fill a Patrick Swayze-sized hole and that will be no mean feat. Previously Grey 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."
The movie is probably arriving at just the right time to capitalize on the wave of nostalgia around legacy sequels to movies from the 80s and early 90s, which has recently seen the likes of Ghostbusters: Afterlife make some big box office returns. Whether Dirty Dancing 2 can get people shuffling their feet into theaters is something that we can only wait to find out.