Romola Garai has signed as the female lead in Artisan Entertainment and Miramax Films' Havana Nights: Dirty Dancing 2. Garai, whose credits include Nicholas Nickleby and the BBC's I Capture The Castle, will star opposite Diego Luna. Directed by Guy Ferland and produced by Lawrence Bender, the story is set in 1959 Cuba and centres on a girl's forbidden love for a young Cuban dancer.

Production on the picture is due to begin in February 2003 with a release date earmarked for Nov 21, 2003. Artisan and Miramax will co-finance and co-produce Havana Nights: Dirty Dancing 2, with Artisan handling domestic distribution and Buena Vista International taking care of the international markets.

Dirty Dancing was released in August 1987 and starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. After winning the Best Song Oscar and Golden Globes it has gone on to become a popular title in the home entertainment market; Artisan reports average monthly sales of 157,000 DVD and VHS units so far this year.

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