Yes, you read right.
“Dirty Dancing”, the popular 1987 film, has been picked up by ABC. And they’re going to turn it into a 3-hour musical special.
We love the original movie and to be honest, it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing power couple Baby and Johnny except Jennifer Grey and the late Patrick Swayze.
Similarly, it’s hard to imagine it being “renewed” as a musical but ABC seems to kinda have that covered because they’ve engaged original “Dirty Dancing” screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein to executive produce the heck out of the upcoming remake.
The original “Dirty Dancing” synopsis is as follows:
Baby (originally played by Jennifer Grey) is one listless summer away from the Peace Corps. Hoping to enjoy her youth while it lasts, she’s disappointed when her summer plans deposit her at a sleepy resort in the Catskills with her parents. Her luck turns around, however, when the resort’s dance instructor, Johnny (originally played by Patrick Swayze), enlists Baby as his new partner, and the two fall in love. Baby’s father forbids her from seeing Johnny, but she’s determined to help him perform the last big dance of the summer.
Jessica Sharzer (of “Scream Queens” and “American Horror Story” fame) will write while Wayne Blair (of “The Sapphires” fame) is in the director’s seat.
On top of that, the “Dirty Dancing” musical will feature music from Adam Anders and Peer Åström, both of whom worked extensively on music for “Glee”.
Adam and Peer have also produced music for other TV shows, movies, and artistes (Celine Dion, Madonna, and Cee Lo Green) so their talents can’t be that far off the mark.
As for the cast, actress Abigail Breslin, who is best known for her Oscar-nominated performance in 2007’s “Little Miss Sunshine” will play Baby. No word on the release date or who’s stepping in to fill Patrick Swayze’s shoes yet though – and those are some big shoes to fill, we must say.
We’ll keep you posted 🙂
Sources: Woman’s Day, Rolling Stone, The Wrap.
