Nicole Scherzinger to star in “Dirty Dancing” Reboot

Nicole Scherzinger has been tapped to appear in the TV reboot for 1987 classic film “Dirty Dancing”, taking on the role originally played by Cynthia Rhodes. 

The three-hour TV movie is being written and exec produced by Jessica Sharzer and, like the 1987 Patrick Swayze/Jennifer Grey starrer, revolves around Baby (to be played by Abigail Breslin), an innocent young woman who vacations with her affluent parents at an early-1960s Catskill Mountains resort and gets swept off her feet by Johnny (Colt Prattes), a handsome, working-class dance instructor. Penny (Scherzinger) is Johnny's dance partner and part of the entertainment staff at the resort. She and Johnny enlist Baby's help and teach her to dance. Debra Messing co-stars as Marjorie Houseman, Baby's mother.

The movie is produced by Lionsgate TV and Allison Shearmur Productions (“The Hunger Games”), with Eleanor Bergstein — who penned the screenplay for the original movie — on board as an executive producer. Grammy nominee Adam Anders and Peer Astrom will tackle music for ABC's rendition. Anders and Judy Cairo will produce, while Wayne Blair (The Sapphires) will direct. 

The role brings Scherzinger back to ABC after she won season 10 of the network's “Dancing With the Stars”. The former Pussycat Doll is in talks to reprise her Olivier-nominated role as Grizabella in the Broadway revival of “Cats”. 

A premeire date for “Dirty Dancing” has not yet been determined.

Source: Hollywood Reporter