A possible return to the beloved 2001 teen drama Save the Last Dance has resurfaced after Julia Stiles revisited the film through a tribute routine on ABC’s competition series Dancing with the Stars. During “Super Bowl Night” on Oct. 13, both Stiles and her former co-star Sean Patrick Thomas revealed they would happily consider stepping back into their iconic roles for a sequel.
Stiles, 45, performed a high-energy jazz routine alongside professional partner Ezra Sosa, set to Jennifer Lopez’s hit track “Jenny from the Block.” The performance featured direct callbacks to the classic movie, most notably the memorable chair choreography from Sara Johnson’s pivotal audition scene. Thomas, 55, was spotted in the ballroom audience cheering her on, even recreating the supportive stance and jacket-holding pose his character, Derek, famously held in the original film.
“I’d been wanting to do that for 25 years,” Stiles gushed to co-host Julianne Hough after receiving a score of 33 out of 40 from the judges.
Reviving Talk of a Sequel After Two Decades
The nostalgic ballroom moment instantly sparked fan speculation regarding a follow-up film to the Thomas Carter-directed classic. In past interviews, both main actors have lightly entertained the idea of reuniting on screen now that decades have passed.
During a 2021 interview, Stiles outlined her creative vision for where her character, aspiring ballerina Sara, could eventually land. “I’m envisioning, like, me doing the Debbie Allen character in Fame, where now she’s a dance teacher and she’s smacking her cane against the ballet bar,” Stiles explained.
Thomas has similarly weighed in on hypothetical plotlines, noting that while an easy marriage trope might feel predictable, he would be open to reviewing a strong script. “If somebody had a good idea, I’d definitely take a look,” Thomas shared. “I would love to work with Julia again, now. It would be an incredible pleasure because we’re grown-ups now.” Stiles echoed the sentiment, adding that reprising a mature dynamic today would feel special and much less nerve-wracking.
A Full Circle Moment on Dancing with the Stars
Stiles’ journey on Dancing with the Stars has not been without its hurdles. Earlier in the season, the actress opened up about feeling self-conscious and dealing with the immense pressure of living up to audience expectations tied to her dancing past. She noted that after wrapping Save the Last Dance, she purposefully stopped taking formal dance classes because people expected her to perform like a professional.
Despite initial anxieties, her “Super Bowl Night” tribute won over the judges. Bruno Tonioli praised the routine as her best yet, highlighting her character work and construction, while Carrie Ann Inaba commended her confidence and grit on the dance floor.
With enthusiastic backing from fans, high praise from the judges, and support from Sean Patrick Thomas in the audience, the appetite for a formal cinematic reunion has never been higher. Whether Hollywood executives will heed the call for a Save the Last Dance follow-up remains to be seen, but the original duo has made it clear the door is officially open.
