John Travolta was conspicuously absent from the LA premiere of the new Paramount+ prequel TV series “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” at the Hollywood American Legion Post 43.

His absence, according to Radar Online, was motivated by a desire to preserve the integrity of the beloved 1978 film.

This new series, set in 1954, is a prequel to Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson’s iconic “Grease” romance. It depicts how a group of young girls became known as the “Pink Ladies.”

According to a source, John is extremely wary of a potential “Grease” prequel due to the loss of his co-star, Olivia Newton-John.

The casting director for “Grease,” Joel Thurm, put it best when he said that both actors refused anything related to sequels or comparable ventures because they knew they would never be able to compete with the original.

From the beginning, it was clear that Joel and the two actors had a strong bond as they brought their characters to life in the film. According to People magazine, John and Olivia had an obvious connection, which contributed to the original film’s success.

He said:

“They felt like old friends from the moment they met, and I believe this enabled them both to perform so well onscreen,”

Olivia Newtown –John passed away in August 2022 after a long battle with breast cancer. Fans of “Grease” were shocked to learn of her death.

A statement by Olivia’s husband, John Easterling, said:

“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation.”

Five years after Grease, John and Olivia reunited for the 1983 feature film “Two Of A Kind.” They collaborated on a Christmas duet album in 2012.

Olivia’s battle with breast cancer began in 1992. She was able to beat it at the time, but the cancer returned in 2013, this time in stage four.

Kelly Preston, John Travolta’s wife, also died of breast cancer in 2020.