Lionsgate is remaking Dirty Dancing, based on the 1987 Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze film of the same name.
The original film's choreographer Kenny Ortega ( High School Musical , Michael Jackson's This Is It ) will direct.
The studio said it is also in talks with Eleanor Bergstein, the writer and co-producer of the original film, and is keen to bring her on board in a producing capacity.
Ortega said the chance to direct the film “was like returning home”.
“Growing up in the '60s on the dance floor helped define me as a person and as an artist,” he added.
“Patrick Swayze set the bar for men dancing in the movies as Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire did before him. I believe everywhere you look there is evidence that the talent is out there and I can't wait to begin the process of discovering the next breakout triple-threats."
Actress Jennifer Grey, who played Baby in the original, also backed the project via Twitter.
“I love @Kennyortega and trust that he will do something special #DirtyDancingRemake,” she tweeted, adding via her publicist, “I’m so excited about this news and I think there’s nobody better to do this than my beloved Kenny Ortega who is as responsible as anyone for the success of the first one. I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do with it.”
