Jennifer Grey: 'Dirty Dancing' sequel will be 'difficult' without Patrick Swayze

No one puts Baby in the corner, but can someone replace Patrick Swayze?

"Dirty Dancing" icon Jennifer Gray has revealed how "difficult" it is to make a sequel without her late co-star Swayze, who died aged 57 of pancreatic cancer in September 2009. Swayze portrayed summer retreat dance instructor Johnny Castle, who falls in love with camp guest Frances "Baby" Houseman as he prepares for a dance competition.

"There will never be another Johnny," Gray said during a tribute to the film's 35th anniversary. "There will never be another Patrick again. This sequel needs to be its own standalone piece. It's very tricky."

Set in 1963, 'Dirty Dancing' was released to rave reviews in 1987; a sequel, set to be set in the 1990s, was announced earlier this year with "Long Shot" director Jonathan Levine directing and co-writing the screenplay that could "explore" a reunion with the original cast.

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"I can't tell you much, unfortunately, but I will tell you that it will involve baby. It will involve Kellerman. There will be music," Gray teased. lots of CGI, Baby is going to be a little older. It's going to be Kellerman, music, dance, love story, romance. I'm so committed and invested in doing a new [take]."

But nothing can top the first film, according to Gray. "What happened happened, and it will never happen again," she said.

Casting is reportedly underway and production is slated for later this year. Gray serves as an executive producer on the sequel. Filming is slated for spring 2023 with a release date of February 9, 2024. Writer-director Levine previously noted that production is in talks with Swayze's estate to reference Johnny's character in the sequel.

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"Johnny is part of Baby's journey through history," Levine told Deadline. “This film exists in a dialogue with the original. We want to introduce this story to a whole new generation. That said, Johnny's absence is a big part of the story, so it's a coming-of-age story, but also a coming-of-age story for Baby's character in a way ."

Swayze would have turned 70 on August 18 of this year.

The sequel to "Dirty Dancing" is expected to include songs from the original film, as well as hip-hop and '90s pop. Levine, who is also a producer, said songs by Alanis Morisette and Liz Phair would be featured.

"I look forward to collaborating with Jennifer to bring this beautiful story of summer and romance and dance to a generation of new fans," Levine said of the coming-of-age love story. 'adulthood. “And to those of long standing, I promise we won't ruin your childhood. We will approach the mission with refinement, ambition and, above all, love. »

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