Dirty Dancing 2’s Jennifer Grey Teases More Returning Original Characters

Dirty Dancing 2 star Jennifer Grey teases that the long-awaited sequel will feature more returning original characters and a return to Kellerman’s.

Jennifer Grey says more Dirty Dancing characters will appear in Dirty Dancing 2. The 1987 hit film starred Grey as Frances “Baby” Houseman, a 17-year-old girl spending the summer at an upscale resort who falls in love with her dance instructor, Patrick Swayze’s Johnny Castle. Scoring largely positive reviews and a major box office haul, the movie spawned a franchise of stage adaptations, a made-for-TV remake and now an official sequel, Dirty Dancing 2, with Grey returning as Baby and Warm Bodies‘ Jonathan Levine directing and co-writing with What They Had‘s Elizabeth Chomko.

While speaking with Extra to discuss her upcoming memoir, Out of the Corner, Jennifer Grey offered some details for the long-awaited Dirty Dancing 2. Not only did the original Baby actor confirm the setting would return to the upscale resort of Kellerman’s, but teased that more returning original characters will appear in the sequel. See what Grey shared below:

“I would say that you can count on it being at Kellerman’s, returning to Kellerman’s, and Baby, quite a few years older. You will see other characters that are from the original. It’s tricky and also exciting.”

Related: How Jennifer Grey Ended Up Making An Iconic Dirty Dancing Scene Even Better

Who Else Could Return For Dirty Dancing 2

Of course, the character Dirty Dancing fans would most want to see reunited with Baby is her dance instructor Johnny. Sadly, Swayze passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2009, which makes that reunion impossible. Aside from Johnny, there are a number of characters that the sequel could revisit three decades after the original.

Billy, played by Neal Jones, would likely be a top choice for many to return in the sequel due to his heartwarming friendship with Baby and his connection with Johnny. As Johnny’s cousin, Billy could be the perfect person to explain Johnny’s absence from the sequel film as well as serving as a stand-in for Johnny as the male lead opposite Baby, even if some fans find Swayze and his character are irreplaceable. Another strong candidate for a Dirty Dancing 2 return is Penny (Cynthia Rhodes), who played an important part in the original since her pregnancy and botched abortion made it necessary for Baby to replace her as Johnny’s dance partner.

Other characters that could show up in Dirty Dancing 2, either in larger parts or as a cameo appearance, are the resort owner’s grandson Neil Kellerman (Lonny Price) and Baby’s sister, Lisa (Jane Brucker). The film could also follow the original’s tradition of cameo appearances from the director or other famous figures, after Bruce Morrow and Matthew Broderick had cameos in the original Dirty Dancing. Dirty Dancing 2 is set for release February 9, 2024, and fans of the original will finally get to revisit the Kellerman’s resort and see who shares the screen with Grey.

More: Dirty Dancing 2’s Story Tease Helps Ease Major Fan ConcernsSource: Extra