Is there a Dirty Dancing 2?
Yes, there is an official Dirty Dancing 2 in the works, with Lionsgate confirming a new sequel to the 1987 classic is finally moving forward. @DirtyDancingMov shared on X that a Dirty Dancing sequel starring Jennifer Grey is officially in development.
The project has been in development for a few years, but January 2026 brought the clearest update yet: the follow‑up is no longer just an idea or a vague announcement; it’s an active film with producers, a writer, and a star locked in.
The studio has said cameras are expected to start rolling later in 2026, which lines up with long‑running plans to time the film’s release close to the original movie’s 40th anniversary.
Dirty Dancing sequel 2026
The Dirty Dancing sequel is not releasing in 2026, but it is being built during 2026, with production slated to begin this year and a likely 2027 release window.
Earlier timelines that pointed to February 2024 or even summer 2025 have been pushed back because of the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes and the slow grind of pre‑production.
Recent coverage now notes that the studio is aiming for a 2027 debut to roughly coincide with 40 years of Dirty Dancing, which feels like the kind of anniversary marketing hook studios love.
What is locked in for 2026 is the behind‑the‑scenes lineup. Hunger Games and Crazy Rich Asians producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson have boarded the project, with Kim Rosenstock (showrunner of Dying for Sex and a Humanitas Prize winner) writing the script.
Lionsgate has been clear that the tone is meant to honour the original without trying to copy‑paste it, with the story reportedly set in the 1990s and focused on a new coming‑of‑age romance that intersects with Baby’s life years after the Catskills summer.
Is Jennifer Grey Returning for Dirty Dancing 2?
Yes, Jennifer Grey is returning for Dirty Dancing 2 as Frances “Baby” Houseman, and she’s also attached as an executive producer. @TheCinesthetic shared on X that Dirty Dancing 2 is moving forward with Jennifer Grey reprising her role.
Studio statements and interviews describe her as being deeply involved in shaping the sequel, not just dropping in for a cameo, with Grey herself saying she has spent years wondering where Baby would be 30‑plus years later and what her life might look like now.
The new film is being built very deliberately around Baby’s perspective: she’s older, the world has changed, and the sequel is meant to explore what that original summer and that relationship with Johnny would mean to someone looking back from the 1990s.
At the same time, Grey and the filmmakers have stressed that the movie will not try to “replace” Patrick Swayze or recreate that exact chemistry.
They are working with Swayze’s estate to include respectful references to Johnny Castle, but any romance at the centre of the sequel will be its own story, not a remake of the original.
For fans, that’s probably the most honest route: let Baby grow up, let the nostalgia breathe, and let the sequel find a different kind of magic instead of pretending the corner never moved on.
Disclaimer
Details about the new Dirty Dancing sequel, including development status, production timeline, and Jennifer Grey’s involvement, are based on recent industry reports and may change as the project progresses. Release dates, casting, and story specifics can be updated by the studio, so readers should check official announcements for the latest information.
