Jennifer Gray explains why loss of Patrick Swayze makes new Dirty Dancing “very complicated”

following dirty dancing get a prequel in the form of 2006 Dirty Dancing: Havana NightsIn addition to being remade in 2017 as an extremely disappointing ABC TV movie, the 1987 original gets a direct sequel all these years later. Shortly thereafter, there are rumors of another dirty dancing the film began to circulate, dirty dancing 2 was officially confirmed in 2020, but sadly Jennifer Gray will not be joined by Patrick Swayze this time because he died in 2009. To that end, Gray explained why losing Swayze brings him closer to the new dirty dancing “very complicated” film.

Speaking of his experience in dirty dancing with uh To commemorate the film’s 35th anniversary, Jennifer Gray spoke briefly with EW dirty dancing 2. In addition to confirming that the script for the next film is in the works and that filming will begin in the spring of 2023, Gray explained how the sequel will look familiar, but he’ll also have to stand up on his own, which is especially essential because Patrick Swayze isn’t. more with us. Gray explained:

the original dirty dancing follows the story of Frances “Baby” Houseman by Jennifer Gray, a young woman who goes on vacation with her family to Ketterman’s in the summer of 1963 and meets Patrick Swayze’s Johnny Castle, a dance teacher at the resort. Baby becomes Johnny’s dance partner in a performance and, while practicing the choreography, the two fall in love. spoiler alert for a 35-year-old film, but the story ends with Baby and Johnny nailing their climax elevator (which Gray turned down until the day that scene was shot) playing and then dancing with everyone from Kellerman during that “( I’ve Had) The time of my life “rang.

If Patrick Swayze was still alive, I guess dirty dancing 2 It would show us that Baby and Johnny were still together all these decades later, or the story would depict these two reuniting after their original relationship didn’t work out. Sadly, we will no longer see Swayze and Gray together, and it’s understandable that Johnny Castle isn’t being recast for dirty dancing 2. So yeah, Gray and the other people behind the sequel are walking a fine line between honoring what came before and making sure this new movie is worthy enough to justify itself. We cross our fingers to achieve this.

Aside from the above details provided by Jennifer Gray, dirty dancing 2The plot is shrouded in secrecy, but behind the scenes Jonathan Levine of Long Shot is directing the show. The sequel is scheduled for release on February 9, 2024, but if you’re curious about which films will arrive first, check out the film releases scheduled for 2023.