While we don’t see the torrent of remakes slowing down any time soon, it would appear that at least one project is being throttled back, with news that Lionsgate has decided to postpone its reboot of ‘80s classic Dirty Dancin****g.
The idea of going back to the beginning with the tale of Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman and hunky dance instructor beau Johnny Castle has been a troubled one for years. While a sequel was developed and then stalled, Artisan got the rights and brought out **Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights **with new characters back in 2004. That didn’t fly at the box office, so in 2009, the company’s new owners, Lionsgate, decided to go the remake route.
Last year, the movie pushed forward as High School Musical director Kenny Ortega (the choreographer of the original, fact fans!) was hired to start tracking down a cast. But while several well known names (including Glee’s Lea Michele) have auditioned, and a July 2013 release date was pencilled in, nothing concrete happened and the film won’t see cinemas until 2014 at the earliest. We know, we know… You’re devastated. You’ll make it through. Just carry a watermelon about until you feel better.