A new Dirty Dancing sequel update confirms the movie is still moving forward. Jennifer Grey will return for the legacy sequel after starring in the 1987 original with Patrick Swayze.
What is the latest Dirty Dancing sequel update?
At Cannes 2026, Lionsgate’s President of International Helen Lee-Kim gave Deadline an update on the highly anticipated sequel. The upcoming film already has producers in Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, known for their work on Hunger Games and Crazy Rich Asians.
“They’re in development and we’re waiting for a script,” said Lee-Kim.
While there is no official release date set for Dirty Dancing 2, the report reveals that the film has already gone through some script changes. The sequel was announced earlier this year, with the announcement that Jennifer Grey will reprise her role as Frances “Baby” Houseman from the original film.
The sequel was announced many years ago, with Jonathan Levine set to direct the film as of 2022. The upcoming film is being written by Kim Rosenstock, known for penning Dying for Sex. There have been no announcements regarding how the film will address Swayze’s character, as the actor passed away in 2009.
A report from Variety in 2022 mentions that the filmmakers were having conversations with Swayze’s estate to incorporate Swayze’s presence as Johnny Castle in some way.
Elsewhere, Lee-Kim also gave a promising update on Sydney Sweeney’s The Housemaid’s Secret, while talking about Lionsgate’s upcoming slate of projects that include many legacy sequels.
The original Dirty Dancing was directed by Emile Ardolino, from a screenplay written by Eleanor Bergstein. The film followed the story of Grey’s Frances Houseman, who falls in love with a dance instructor (Swayze) while on vacation with her family at a resort. The hit single “[I’ve Had] The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, which featured in the movie, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The film was a box office success, earning over $214 million dollars.
Besides its upcoming sequel, Dirty Dancing also spawned a 2004 prequel, a musical stage adaptation, a 1988 TV series, and a 2017 remake released on TV.
