HavanaNights: Dirty Dancing 2co-producers and co-financers Artisan Entertainment and Miramax Films haveannounced final casting on the follow-up to the 1987 original. Set inrevolution-era Cuba in 1958, the story centres on a romance between Katey, a17-year-old American girl whose family has moved to Cuba, and Javier, a Cubanman. Principal photography is due to begin in Puerto Rico on Mar 18 with adomestic release through Artisan set for Feb 13, 2004. BVI will handleinternational distribution on behalf of Miramax.

Joining leadsDiego Luna (Javier) and Romola Garai (Katey) are: Sela Ward (Once and Again,My Fellow Americans) andJohn Slattery (Traffic, Bad Company) as Katey's parents; Mika Boorem (Blue Crush, Riding inCars With Boys) asKatey's younger sister Susie; Jonathan Jackson (Insomnia, TuckEverlasting) as theaggressive American teenager James; Rene Lavan (The Emerald Cut, AzucarAmarga) as Carlos,Javier's Cuban revolutionary brother; and January Jones (AmericanWedding, Anger Management, Full Frontal) as Eve. Guy Ferland will direct, with Lawrence Bender andSarah Green executive producing.

Senior vicepresident of acquisitions and production Rachel Cohen is overseeing the projectfor Artisan and Jennifer Berman, vice president of production and development,is overseeing for Miramax.