Almost 40 years after stepping out of the corner and into movie history, Baby Houseman will soon be dusting off his dancing shoes again.

This week, Lionsgate Films confirmed that a sequel to 1987’s “Dirty Dancing” will begin filming this year, with Jennifer Gray reprising her role as Baby.

Kim Rosenstock, whose credits include “Dying for Sex” and “Only Murders in the Building,” will write the film’s script, and “The Hunger Games” and “Crazy Rich Asians” producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson will also join the creative team.

Grey, who will also serve as executive producer, shared her excitement for the project in a statement to Entertainment Weekly and Deadline.

“The role of Baby has held a very deep and meaningful place in my heart, as it has in the hearts of so many fans over the years,” she said. “I’ve long wondered where we might find Baby years later and what her life would be like, but it’s taken time to assemble the kind of people who I felt could be entrusted with building the legacy of the original film… and I’m excited to say it looks like the wait will be over soon!”

Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze attend the New York premiere of
Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze attend the New York premiere of “Dirty Dancing” in 1987.

Ron Galella, Ltd. via Getty Images

Some fans, however, seemed to be having the time of their lives skewering the ad. Many point out that the new film will have to deal with the absence of Patrick Swayze, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2009 at age 57.

“Dancing dirty without Patrick Swayze is trying to dance in cement galoshes,” one person wrote on Instagram.

Another added: “The original movie worked because of the combination of her and Patrick, and Patrick passed away, so let DD rest in peace with him.”

Others made similar comments about X:

For the uninitiated, 1987’s “Dirty Dancing” follows a studious teenager, Frances “Baby” Houseman (Grey), who falls for handsome, tough dance instructor Johnny Castle (Swayze) while vacationing with her family at a Catskills resort in 1963.

Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray in a scene from the original
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray in a scene from the original film “Dirty Dancing.”

Archive photos via Getty Images

While reviews of the film were less than stellar, “Dirty Dancing” grossed more than $218 million at the worldwide box office. And even by modern standards, the film’s take on a number of hot-button issues, including abortion, gender stereotypes and social class prejudices, seems ahead of its time.

Although a “Dirty Dancing” sequel has reportedly been in the works since at least 2020, previous attempts to expand the film into a franchise have been lackluster at best. Except for a brief Swayze cameo, 2004’s “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” was a flop. And the less said about the 2017 TV remake starring Abigail Breslin and Colt Prattes, the better.