‘Dirty Dancing’ Is Getting a Remake — Pull Baby Out of the Corner

Lately, it seems Hollywood is happier living in the past than in the future, what with remakes of films like ‘Footloose’ and squeezing every last drop of nostalgia out of comic book superheroes.

Now you can add another to the list — it’s been confirmed that ‘Dirty Dancing,’ the 1987 film that made household names of its stars Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, is getting a reboot, as well.

Kenny Ortega, who choreographed the original film, has been tapped to direct the remake. In recent years, Ortega has directed the ‘High School Musical’ TV and feature films, as well as the Michael Jackson tribute documentary ‘This Is It.’ He was also slated to direct the new ‘Footloose’ movie before he had to drop out — it subsequently went to ‘Hustle and Flow’ director Craig Brewer.

The original ‘Dirty Dancing’ only cost $6 million to make and went on to gross $213.95 million worldwide. Clearly, Lionsgate, the studio that will produce the film, is hoping lightning will strike twice.

“Amazingly it has been almost 25 years since the original film was released, but the fans remain legion, and engaged more than ever with a brand that is special and vital to them. We believe that the timing couldn’t be better to modernize this story on the big screen, and we are proud to have Kenny Ortega at the helm,” Joe Drake, president of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group.

[New York Magazine]