Dirty Dancing's Jennifer Grey has fuelled speculation that Heated Rivalry's Connor Storrie will star in the sequel as she followed him on Instagram. 

The actor, 26, has been catapulted to fame as the first breakout star of 2026 thanks to his lead role in the steamy HBO ice hockey drama about a gay romance.

He has since rubbed shoulders with Hollywood's elite in a range of red carpet appearances - and will even host Saturday Night Live later this week. 

And now rumours have been swirling about his next big gig after Jennifer followed him on Instagram following the announcement of a Dirty Dancing sequel. 

It was just last month news broke that a follow-up was officially moving forward, with Jennifer returning to her iconic role as Frances 'Baby' Houseman without her late co-star Patrick Swayze. 

Fans now suspect that Connor may have also been cast in the film as they remarked on his striking resemblance to Patrick - who died in 2009 at age 57 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. 

The fan theory has seen people suggest Connor could be playing Baby and Patrick's character Johnny Castle's son.   

Fans insisted that Connor is 'perfectly cast' if the rumours are true as they begged for the theory to be true.

They wrote: 'This is the perfect casting,'; 'GIVE. HIM. EVERYTHING. EVERY. PART,'; 'Oh snap Oh snap Oh snap,';

'Omg he would be perfect as Johnny and baby's son! He looks so much like Patrick,'; 'i neeeeeeed it,'; 'PLS LET THIS BE REAL

'Connor is a total chameleon. Put him in any role and he’ll deliver a masterpiece every single time,'; 'Desp need this to be true,';

'Omg Yesss he will do justice, hopefully the world will be kind to him,'; 'WAITTTTT THIS WOULD EAT,'; 'He's definitely playing Johnny and Baby's son !!!!';

'What a dream this would be,'; 'I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS! He looks so much like patrick!'; 'OMG PERFECT CAST,'; 'He would be PERFECT. That video dancing to Madonna?? Greatest audition ever.'

Lionsgate confirmed the Dirty Dancing follow-up last month, with Jennifer set to reprise her role as Baby more than three decades after the original film became a cultural phenomenon.

The announcement, however, immediately sparked fierce debate online, with many longtime fans questioning how the franchise can continue without Patrick.

According to Lionsgate, producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson will oversee the new feature, which is aiming to begin production later this year. 

Kim Rosenstock, known for Dying for Sex, has been tapped to write the screenplay.

Jennifer was previously announced as both executive producer and star, returning as Baby more than 35 years after the original film - which grossed over $200million worldwide and became a defining love story of the late 1980s.

A director has not yet been announced. 

Jonathan Levine, who was once attached to helm the project, will now serve as an executive producer instead.

While details about the plot remain tightly under wraps, the backlash suggests the sequel will face intense scrutiny from fans who see the original as untouchable.

The announcement immediately sparked fierce debate online, with many longtime fans questioning how the franchise can continue without Patrick.

'Wait – what? How can you make a Dirty Dancing sequel WITH Jennifer Grey but WITHOUT Patrick Swayze?' they wrote.

'Absolutely not. He is gone and no one can replace him,'; 'Dirty Dancing sequel actually happening is wild,'; 'I think the f*** not,';

'Don't you f***ing dare. You'll never replace Swayze,'; 'Jennifer Grey back? Cool. Without Swayze? Flop incoming.'