It really doesn’t matter if you like the film or not; there is no denying that “Dirty Dancing” is an ’80s classic and staple, an Oscar winner (Best Original Song for “(I’ve Had the) Time of My Life”) and still a current pop culture reference point (a portion of Ryan Gosling‘s pick up routine in “Crazy Stupid Love” revolves entirely around the movie). But hey, why watch the original when you can have a second rate remake, right?
That’s right fans, “Dirty Dancing” is getting a do over and none other than the original film’s choreographer Kenny Ortega — who was also behind “This Is It,” the “High School Musical” trilogy and even a couple of episodes of the short lived “Dirty Dancing” TV series — is lined up to direct the movie. Granted Ortega was responsible for putting together the hot dance steps that made the original a sensation, but his film will miss three key ingredients: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey and Jerry Fucking Orbach.
But whatever, with the “Step Up” movies not going away and another ’80s dance movie getting a redo with this fall’s “Footloose” — not to mention the endless reality shows — there is a big audience for this who are probably too young to remember the original anyway. That said, the first attempted reboot of the franchise “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” was a colossal failure, so you never can tell. But you know, if Ortega can convince Paul Feig — yes, that Paul Feig (see below) — to reprise his role from the TV show in a cameo, we’ll give him some points for that.
No word on when this start grooving, but it’s apparently a “high priority” for Lionsgate. [Deadline]
