Dirty Dancing Delayed, DWTS Pro Derek Hough Screen Tested For Role…and A Bit of Rock of Ages
For those dancing fans hoping for another “Dirty Dancing” remake to happen soon, don’t count on it as plans have been delayed for another year due to casting issues. Below is more from Deadline.com. Note the mention on Dancing With The Stars pro Derek Hough and how he screen tested for the movie as did Lea Michele, Liana Liberato, and Nikki Yanofsky.
The remake of the 1987 Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey film was scheduled to be released in July 2013, but now the movie is off the studio’s release dance card at least until 2014. Kenny Ortega, who was a choreographer on the original, is attached to direct the film. No cast had been announced. However Deadline has learned that Glee’s Lea Michele, Trespass’ Liana Liberato and Canadian singer Nikki Yanofsky were screen tested as were Brothers & Sisters’ Luke Grime, Nashville Star’s Justin Gaston and Dancing With the Stars’ Derek Hough.
So, if they are seriously considering Derek Hough as the male lead (which I and many of you would love. He’d be perfect!), could they be waiting for him to be available until after the Dancing With The Stars All-star season happens? It makes a person wonder? I hope so as he just has to do the All-star season. It wouldn’t be right to do it without him. Let’s get Heidi’s thoughts…
Heidi: No, they aren’t going to wait for Derek. As big a fan as I am, that’s not the hold up. They would make him choose if that were the issue, or they would pick someone else. For one thing, I don’t really believe that Derek is still contractually tied to DWTS beyond a season to season basis – it’s been NINE seasons. Pretty sure he can go do something else if he wants to – Julianne did after what? Five? Anyway, another article I read from Variety said that Lionsgate bought another company (or was bought, can’t remember) and it said that they now have a very full slate of movies in the pipeline. It implied that was the reason for the delay. I think other articles assumed it was casting issues.
And I say NO to Lea Michele, although she has the right look for it. 
Cross Posted from Pure Derek Hough – Derek and Julianne (and Ryan) at the Rock of Ages Premiere:
Julianne looks good, although that’s not my favorite color on her. Derek? There are no words. Thanks to @n_s_23_23 for these.
Hee Hee…
LOLLL to that last pic!!!
Found out that is one of the colors during that time period, also the green that she wore on DWTS when they did the ROA performance.
Lions gate and Summitt merged and I am pretty sure that is the reason.
I always wondered if Julianne bought any remaining years of her contract. It was hinted for awhile she had to go back etc and now more such talk.
Forgot to add on the male side none of the other actors are dancers as well.
Since when has singing or dancing ability mattered when it comes to movies?
Ortega recently went to Cannes to drum up foreign investment for the remake. My take on it is that they couldn’t get what they wanted. I don’t for a NY minute buy the casting excuse, or that they have too much on their plate.
If there was money to be made, they wouldn’t shelf this project.
I just can’t for the life of me think of an actory who could fill Swayze’s shoes in DD. I think it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
I agree Lea Michele has the perfect look for the baby role. But good gracious her voice annoys me and I don’t think she’s a very good actress. I can’t really think of anybody that could fill Jennifer Grey’s shoes, either.
Derek & Julianne are such a talented pair!! Love their photos at the Rock of Ages premier..
Who really knows why there is a delay with the DD project. I do believe it will be filmed though and I’m hoping Derek gets it. I do think the person who gets this roleof Johnny should have dancing ability-otherwise it just wouldn’t seem right-JMO!!
Not just good dancing ability but teaching ability as well.. that is unless their changing the movie significantly.
The merging and other project do make sense as far as a delay is concerned. Sorry for the extra posts. Thanks for the info and photos.
Love this site….
I wonder if Maks auditioned for it. I heard Mark did. Derek seems perfect for the role IMO.
I noticed Maks pr agent RTed the news about DD. not sure what that means or even anything to interpret.
Everything goes back to money. If they think they can get more money, the will wait. I think the merger is a key factor. Also most trade reports are not buying the casting excuse. Kenny is said to be a fan if Derek and Brad F. Knows Lea from Glee. I see nothing wrong with Lea or her voice. different strokes.
I think if Maks auditioned, we would have heard like we did for Derek. I do think Lizzie has many more clients than just the Chermkovskiys, too. Who knows?
They can hardly announce who their favorite was because now that it’s pushed back, whoever they were favoring may no longer be available.
The stated delay in DD is probably half truth at least. Who knows. I do think it increases Derek’s chances of at least being considered. I mean, he will go on to other great things if he doesn’t get it but to get that role should only be helpful to him. Granted remakes are hated by many but unless HE sucks in the movie it would be good for him.
I just get hung up on it tho cause to me Derek is so much like Patrick Swayze. A very passionate guy, yet sweet, lovable, vulnerability peeks thru a little. But also can become volatile, moody and hard-to-deal with very quickly
Both dancers as children (Patrick was ballet and helping teach at his Mom’s school). If Derek can convey those sides that show his similaritys to Patrick, I think the audience could fall just like they did for Patrick. And I’m with Dee on the fact that people will really hate it more of they cast a non-dancer in the role because then it really won’t relate to Patrick.
Lea M……not so much. Trying to cast Jennifer’s part seems more baffling to me.
Lizzie Grubman has fallen hard. While she has other clients, she is not the top desired agent like in the past. Might have to do with running her car into a crowd and all.
Derek’s talented enough so if not this, can only hope he has other opportunities. As for casting, there were plenty more who did but not mentioned. We knew Mark did based on after buzz. I know Lea Thompson’s daughter auditioned as well based on twitter. But maybe they were not the top contenders. Who knows at this point. I thought Lea like Carrie Ann when the remake was mentioned. Different strokes but all I care is for Derek to get more projects to show off his talent. He really is a artist and so talented.
Unlike many, I don’t take the Buzz’s word as gospel.
I have to agree with Violet… I am not sure anyone (even Derek) could fill Patrick Swayze’s dance shoes in the remake of Dirty Dancing. I personally think the entire concept of redoing this Dancing Masterpiece is just wrong.
And look at the ramifications if the movie is a flop. I would love for Derek to be a breakout star of a movie, just maybe not this movie. jmo though.
Eh, neither do I but when mentioning Mark on that one, I believed it. I can see Mark auditioning. Maybe nothing more than that. Who knows.
Fun Rock of Ages pictures! Adam said Derek has a cameo in that movie. Fun!
Be still my heart.
I don’t think there are many ramifications to Derek if the movie flops. He’s not yet expected to carry a movie. Even those who ARE expected to carry a movie have flops – often lots of them. And they just keep making movies.
Derek just needs to do well and I’m confident he can do well. I do wish he would do something else.
I think Derek could make it as an actor, as I’ve said before, I’d love to see him something like the Coen brothers do. But I think in many ways it would be harder for him to carry off DD remake than say, Maks or Mark where the story line can be changed slightly and parents don’t want their daughter with “that Russian” or “that Mexican” where Derek would have much more to live up to with a more direct comparison to the original. Of course I have no idea if either M or M can act or even want it. And I’ll watch the remake no matter who is in it.
Derek tweeted this at nearly 2am “It’s a shame dirty dancin fell through. Was a great screen test with some amazing babies … maybe next time” and then deleted it!! Thank god for mobile notifications!!
yup…i saw the tweet…but i didn’t RT or answered it because if Derek deleted it means he doesn’t want the tweet out there..so i wanted to respect that…still can’t stop wondering what he meant by that tweet…especially by the next time thing…
Very interesting ladies…
That’s sad. Thanks for letting us know. Yes, “maybe next time” Derek.
I wonder if Mark has heard anything.
The fell through part was interesting. I read it more from the production end obvious with them shelving the project. I hope he has other things in the works too. When people say triple threat, I think of him. Not in a Disney channel type of way but he really acts, sings( remember many liked his voice from bhb better) and dances.
I am guessing Mark was not in consideration. I do really see him acting. He is clearly focused on music which is his passion.
Hmmm…almost sounds like he had the part if they were testing him against “amazing babies”. Which would also explain why he deleted the tweet. Admitting that he’s got ANYTHING is so against his normal behavior – he’s extremely annoying that way.
Yeah, I doubt Mark was in consideration. The way Derek wrote it sounded like they were testing him against a bunch of different women, which is telling.
Don’t forget, Derek slipped once late last season and actually admitted he had “3 or 4″ other opportunities he was juggling this fall…you really have to listen hard to that boy because he usually gives nothing away. It’s annoying…but considering how DD fell through, it’s probably the best way to go.
Lea Michele is beautiful and has a great singing voice but her acting would have to improve big time if she go the role. She is good on Glee but tv acting is a much more forgiving than movie acting. Unless its Dirty Dancing the msuical then she is perfect lol
still think diana agron would be great as Baby though.
I’m in the “remakes of movies are not such a good idea” camp. They’re never as good and unfavorable comparisons are inevitable…that being said, I think Derek would come the closest to Patrick Swayze of anyone in the entertainment business today. But, I also agree it’s probably a good thing for Derek it isn’t going to happen. I can’t see Mark in the role, and Maks’ accent and maturity would be a detriment. He’d come across as a Russian mafioso preying on a young girl.
My take is just leave DD alone. It can’t be improved on.
Diana Agron??? No. The whole point of “Baby” was that she was the supposed less attractive sister who a guy like Johnny would never look at. Plus, I think they made the family Jewish in the original. I think if you cast some bombshell as Baby you might as well throw in the towel. It could be any movie at that point.
Unfortunately, Auntie, they haven’t outright dumped it, they only postponed it for a year. I think they’ll still end up doing it. But they’ll have to do casting all over again, most likely, since a year means that anyone they chose could be tied up with something else by the time it comes back around.
I think they will end up doing it. If you read a lot about the Lionsgate purchase of Summit, it actually makes sense they would postpone it. They had a 4th quarter net loss because of the purchase (which resulted in a 6% stock loss) and will have to be careful to get their stock back up. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Derek’s other movie release get pushed to 2013 because of it as well, since it was Lionsgate also. Frankly, if they push it it might actually be a good sign that they want to do right by in as opposed to just shoving it out there. Who knows, though. Someone tweeted a pic of a movie poster for that one yesterday, but we can’t tell if it’s real or a fake.
true she might be too pretty for the part. lea michelle would be too pretty too. tough casting for this role i think. maybe heather morris from glee then. she isn’t a bombshell and can act. but she doesn’t have great acting skills though. this is actually pretty tough. they are bette roff casting an unknown.
better off*
I think Lea Michelle has exactly the RIGHT look for the part…I just don’t care for her as an actress. She’s acts on TV like she’s on the stage. Perhaps that is intentional, but I would need to see her in something else.
Heather Morris might be good. Not good acting skills? I think you mistake her character with her as a person.
I think it would be difficult to act so…clueless all the time.
@Heidi – Do you really think that Derek had the part? I don’t think Derek reading with some “amazing babies” reads like he had the part? Isn’t that common practice in that industry? Maybe its a blessing in disguise for Derek.
As far as postponing it, sounds like a good idea. Maybe they will scrap the entire concept. Its a huge risk to redo a Classic…. Afterall, its a Classic for a reason.
Not Heather Morris. She is not good on Glee. The whole not bright Brittany is not challenging and it is tiresome. I think Lea is good. Different strokes because I still find Lea better than most of her cast mates including the overrated Naya and Chris Colfer IMO.
I Agree if Derek tested if the other female actresses and based on his tweets, he had the part but it was other factors. Including merger and getting enough buyers particularly in the growing overseas market to distribute the film. There was a conference with the Lionsgate VP talking about the restructuring with the merger and focusing also on tv. He also said he is going to keep the international distributors to take care of the foreign film showing. I remember a top Korean entertainment firm SM already took care of the Asian distribution of Cobu.
PH, I hope those three or four other projects are exciting opportunities for him. He has nothing else to prove on dwts so I would not mind if he moved on and just came once in awhile to do a results dance with say like Allison again.
Heidi, I agree with you regarding Lea. I admit I haven’t seen a ton of Glee episodes. But I did recently watch “New Year’s Eve” (not a good movie. At all.) She had a small part in that, but reminded me exactly of her Glee character. That was all I needed to see to cement my opinion of her acting skills.
I wonder about the younger set, like Dakota Fanning or Abigail Breslin. Girls who I don’t find conventionally pretty, but who have the acting chops (IMO). I don’t know if they would look old enough though, even though they are what, 18 or 19? And isn’t that how old Baby was supposed to be in the original?
I still can’t think of a Johnny. I’ve never seen Derek act in anything, but I can’t see him in the role. Only because I think Johnny has to look hard, like he could beat somebody up. I just can’t see Derek that way, he’s too nice. I couldn’t see Zac Efron like that either, he has been mentioned. Maks would be good LOOK wise, but I don’t peg him for an actor at all. Plus the whole accent thing.
Someone on this thread mentioned Mark in the role of the snotty nephew or son or whatever he was. I think that’s perfect. LOL.
Violet,
That’s why its called acting. I think if you are a true actor/actress you can portray roles that don’t necessarily “or at all” fit your personality.
In the movie Derek just filmed, Cobu3D, he plays a tougher role as well.
I think he’d be perfect as Johnny. He’s a passionate performer and I think that will translate well on the big screen too.
I know what acting is, and I agree with you. I haven’t ever seen Derek act, so I will probably change my opinion once I see a performance of his. I just don’t see him as “hardened” enough for the role right now. I really wish they had cast Derek in “Footloose” instead of Julianne. I think he fit the role much better than the guy who was actually cast.
But again, you’re right. I would have never pegged Reese Witherspoon as having enough gusto to perform as she did in the “Freeway” but she was brilliant in that role.
You guys can’t just throw Maks out of the running because there are a lot of international stars that portray american accents in projects look at fringe actress Anna Torv who is australian and does portray an american accent really well in her show. Saying that if Maks would get that role he would have to work with a vocal coach to nail an american accent when he acts in this movie. But i do think derek fits the role.
Maks can do the Ukranian version of it ….
I think the fact that Derek tested against a bunch of different women indicated that he had the part or at the very least was one of the big front runners. Usually when they start testing one person against a bunch of different people they’re trying to find that person a good match. Maybe they had two front runner guys (like listed in the article) and were testing both against a bunch of women…but some stuff I’ve heard recently makes me think Derek had it. We may never know because Derek ain’t big on sharing.