With a Footloose remake coming this fall from Craig Brewer, another 1980′s dancing classic is getting the same treatment. Deadline reports that Kenny Ortega, director of the Michael Jackson concert documentary This is It as well as the High School Musicals, will helm the update to the 1987 hit Dirty Dancing. He was also set to direct Footloose, before Brewer stepped in.

The choice goes beyond the surface, as Ortega was the choreographer of the original starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. This will be a reboot, and not a continuation of the original (which got the poorly received sequel Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights in 2004).

While I have very little interest in a Dirty Dancing update, I’ve heard strong things about Brewer’s remake. If Ortega can bring the same kind of flair here and go beyond just the tween demographic, there is a chance I’d check this out. Lionsgate is setting this project high priority, so expect more development news soon.

What do you think about Ortega directing a Dirty Dancing remake? Is he the right fit?