Jennifer Grey recently shared an update on the sequel to her 1987 romantic drama Dirty Dancing. The film centered on Grey as Frances "Baby" Houseman, an upper-class young woman who, while vacationing with her family at a resort, falls in love with her dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), much to the chagrin of her father Jake (Jerry Orbach). The film was immensely popular with audiences with it quickly becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year.
Dirty Dancing soon became a cult classic when it was released on home video. The film spawned a stage musical version on Broadway, a prequel entitled Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, and a made-for-TV musical remake for ABC with Abigail Breslin in the starring role. In 2020, Dirty Dancing 2 was announced with Jennifer Grey reprising her role as Frances. The actor previously revealed that Swayze will not be replaced in the upcoming film due to his untimely death from pancreatic cancer in 2009.
Jennifer Grey recently sat down with People while promoting her upcoming memoir Out of the Corner and shared an update on the highly anticipated Dirty Dancing sequel. Grey explained that she has been working on the film for a couple of years with Lionsgate and it is still in the writing 7phase. Although she admits that the new film will not capture the same magic as the original, she hopes to create an experience that will resonate with new audiences. Read what the actor said below.
"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."
Grey explained that she believes that people today feel that their identity is narrowed by the world around them, a world that dictates who they are. Grey added, "But there are certain people who can see other parts of you." The actor calls Dirty Dancing a fairy tale metaphor for understanding self as well as escaping societal pressures and restrictions through dance. Baby felt trapped by those pressures and felt controlled by her father, but eventually felt liberated through dance and her relationship with Johnny.
As is the recent trend in Hollywood, the 80s has been mined for its popular films and TV shows for remakes, reboots, and legacy sequels. Ghostbusters: Afterlife, 21 Jump Street, and Terminator: Dark Fate are results of that trend. It is no surprise that Dirty Dancing was included in the mix. What remains to be seen is whether or not fans of the original will embrace the sequel with open arms. Although Grey has already admitted that no sequel can top the first film, perhaps the new film can capture a new audience just like Dirty Dancing had done 35 years prior.
Source: People
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