“Dirty Dancing” reboot has a writer

Posted by Aubrey Sitterson on August 30th

With original “Dirty Dancing” choreographer Kenny Ortega signed on to direct Lionsgate’s upcoming reboot of the franchise, it’s a safe bet that the film’s dancing will be dirtier than ever. But sexy moves are just part of the new “Dirty Dancing” equation, as writer Maria Maggenti has been brought on to craft the 21st century version of “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”

Some people might say that a love story as timeless as “Dirty Dancing” needs no reboots, remakes or revisiting, but those grouchy bastards simply don’t understand the appeal of watching the same movie with much younger actors and what we imagine will be way more hip-hop music. The original 1987 film, of course, followed the romance between Patrick Swayze’s Catskills dance instructor and Jennifer Grey’s underage affluent New Yorker. The entire production was set to a soundtrack dripping with late 1980s schmaltz and cheese, making the film both an ironic favorite for in-the-know 20-somethings as well as a nonironic classic to moms everywhere.

The reboot’s new writer, Maria Maggenti is best known for writing “The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love,” but has also worked on the CBS procedural “Without a Trace.” Deadline has reported that the writer is currently wrapping up work on “My Name is Memory,” but will soon be responsible for drafting the new “Dirty Dancing” flick.

What do you think about “Dirty Dancing”? Is it a hunk of 1980’s nostalgia just screaming out for a remake, or a timeless classic that should be encased in amber? Tell us in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter.