Dirty Dancing sequel aims to keep the original feel

Producer Nina Jacobson says the planned “Dirty Dancing” follow-up with Jennifer Grey is meant to capture the feeling of the 1987 original, not just repeat it. She spoke about the project during IndieWire’s Future of Filmmaking 2026 Summit in Los Angeles.

Jacobson said the original film took risks and dealt with topics that would be harder to include in a romance movie today. She said the new project is trying to bring back that same emotional pull while telling a young love story set in the 1990s.

Grey will return as Frances “Baby” Houseman, while the new story will feature a younger cast. Jacobson also said the team is thinking carefully about how to honor Patrick Swayze, who played Johnny Castle in the original film and died in 2009.

She made it clear the sequel will not use AI to bring Swayze back. Jacobson also talked about the new HBO “Crazy Rich Asians” series, saying TV made more sense than a sequel film because the story works better in that format.