TV, Film News: Remakes Planned For ‘Bewitched,’ ‘Dirty Dancing’

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CHICAGO – Fans of the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing” may need to dust off their dancing shoes and get ready to have the time of their life again. Kenny Ortega, the choreographer of the original “Dirty Dancing” as well as the director of the “High School Musical” films and the Michael Jackson documentary “This Is It,” has been in contact with Lionsgate about directing a remake of the Patrick Swayze/Jennifer Grey original.

Ortega and producer Debra Martin Chase (“The Princess Diaries” and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”), will produce the film that is tentatively scheduled for a 2013 release. Eleanor Bergstein, the co-produce and writer of the original film, may also join the project in a producer’s role.

Ortega was quoted in Variety on Monday about the new project: “The opportunity to direct “Dirty Dancing” is like returning home for me. Growing up in the ‘60s on the dance floor helped define me as a person and as an artist. I am looking forward to assembling a great creative team and an exciting cast to bring ‘Dirty Dancing’ to the screen for a new generation.”

If one remake wasn’t enough news, word out of CBS is that “Bewitched” may be coming back to television. CBS has ordered a script to be made by Sony Pictures Television that would bring the classic show that began in 1964 back into the homes of America.

The move is something that makes sense for both parties, seeing that CBS had much success with the remake of “Hawaii Five-0” last season and Sony Pictures Television was behind the writing of the new “Charlie’s Angels” series that is set to make its premiere this September on ABC.

There has been no casting yet as far as Samantha and Darrin go, but Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher, the couple that brought “Bewitched” to the big screen in 2005, are said to be signed on as executive producers of the new series.

Source: Variety

By TIM MARTENS
Contributing Writer
HollywoodChicago.com