Welcome to Rumorville! Here you can learn about casting news that’s about to break in Hollywood. These speculations might be only rumors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t follow the trail all the way to the audition room.
“Dirty Dancing”
You still can’t put Baby in the corner! According to Deadline, there’s a currently untitled dance movie starring and executive produced by original “Dirty Dancing” star Jennifer Grey in the works at Lionsgate. Details have yet to be revealed on the project and the studio is refusing to comment on whether the Grey-led project will bring back Baby. Lionsgate holds the rights to “Dirty Dancing,” having released both the original 1987 film and the 2004 sequel, “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” (Grey was not part of the sequel). Megamix’s Jonathan Levine and Gillian Bohrer will head the project—this follows Liongate’s first-look deal signed with Levine last year—with Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis (“Five Feet Apart,” “The Curse of La Llorona”) reportedly writing the screenplay. A lot has changed since 1987 so look for a new casting team to take on the project.
“Lo Lifes: Stealing the American Dream”
First reported by Deadline, “Lo Lifes: Stealing the American Dream,” a scripted series about the 1980s Brooklyn street crew, is now in the works. Kevin Garnett’s Content Cartel, Village Roadshow Television, Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions, and Marc Levin’s Blowback Productions are teaming up for the project. The real-life Lo Lifes formed from two shoplifting crews in Brooklyn and gained popularity by boosting designer labels from Tri-State area department stores. Group co-founder Victor “Thirstin Howl the 3rd” DeJesus will also executive produce the project. This will be Garnett and Sandler’s second collaboration after Garnett played a fictional version of himself in 2019’s hit “Uncut Gems.”
ABC Medical Drama
ABC’s prime medical series writing duo is scrubbing in for another big-name drama. The network has reportedly put into development a medical drama from “The Good Doctor” writer-producer David Renaud and the series’ executive producer Seth Gordon. “Drop Dead Diva” creator Josh Berman also joins Renaud and Gordon, who will produce the project through Sony Pictures TV, where they are both under deals. Written by Renaud, the series is loosely inspired by reality, centering around a doctor whose life is upended when a tragic accident leaves her unable to walk. If greenlit, this will join a slate of series Gordon executive produces for ABC, including “United We Fall” and “The Goldbergs.” Look to “Good Doctor” casting director Liz Dean to possibly cast the new series, as well.
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