Film studio Lionsgate has announced a sequel to the cult melodrama Dirty Dancing. Original star Jennifer Grey will executive produce and reprise her role as Frances “Baby” Houseman. Filming is scheduled to begin later in 2026. The script is written by Kim Rosenstock (TV series To Die For Sex). A director has not yet been appointed: Jonathan Levine, who was originally slated to direct the sequel, will remain as an executive producer but will not direct.
The original film Dirty Dancing, released on August 21, 1987, told the story of the romance between Baby (Grey) and dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) at Kellerman’s resort in the 1960s. The film became a surprise hit, grossing $214 million worldwide (about $608 million today) and winning an Oscar for Best Original Song for “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” It later spawned the 2004 prequel Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights, a stage musical and a 2017 television remake on ABC.