A source close to the remake of the ’80s box-office smash Footloose tells EW that the movie-musical is now on hold while Paramount decides whether to move forward without Zac Efron in the lead. The source also denied recent Internet reports that Gossip Girl heartthrob Chace Crawford tested for the role last weekend.
Efron (pictured, left) was originally attached to project in the role made famous in 1984 by hip-swivelling bad boy Kevin Bacon (pictured, right). Last week, EW reported that the High School Musical star pulled out of the project after more than a year and a half when his advisers cautioned against doing another musical and becoming pigeonholed before he had the chance to establish himself in a variety of genres.
At the time, the studio insisted that that plans for the project were still full steam ahead, with or without Efron: “While Zac is no longer attached, we remain excited and committed to the collective brain trust of Kenny Ortega, Neil Meron, and Craig Zadan, who will reinvigorate the franchise.”
But the source now claims that the film is actually holding pattern until Paramount makes up its mind whether or not an Efron-free Footloose is a one they want to ultimately bankroll.
More Zac Efron, ‘Footloose’:
Zac Efron cuts loose from ‘Footloose’ remake
Zac Efron’s Day Off: EW Photo Showcase
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he’s not the only talent in town
While I wasn’t real excited to see one of my beloved ’80s movies remade, I wasn’t totally against it with Efron as Ren. But now I can’t imagine anybody else as Ren. I don’t really want it to go forward without Efron. What other song and dance man/boy is there out there for this part.
This movie was very much a product of the 80s, the remake has disastreous-but-we-already-knew-that written all over it.
Please, you can not remake “Footloose”. It’s an 80’s genre film that should be left alone. Are they going to remake “Sixteen Candles” and “Pretty In Pink”?
Zac is great in musicals and that is so not going to pidgeon hole him…I think he was ill advised and will probably regret it. You do what you love to do not what you are told to do.
Footloose is an 80s iconic movie and I loved Kevin Bacon in it. But Lori Singer was horrible. I would hope any remake would pick a better leading lady.
I really wish that he would do it, I definitely don’t think he would be pigeonholed — a successful movie is a successful movie.
I’m just confused why they are releasing 17 again on April 17th — when kids are not out of school yet and one week after the hannah montana movie. I wish they would release it in the summer. It was the same problem with them releasing high school musical 3 in october — it never got the repeat business during the week because kids were in school.
You think you are offended now. They are doing a remake of Breakfast Club next.
Why are they remaking yet another classic 80s movie??? Leave well enough alone. The original rocks!!
why must we keep remaking everthing is there no new ideas left in holly wood
If you think this re-make is bad, and so is the breakfast club, just wait- they get so much worse: Red Sonjah, The Goonies, Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, Poltergeist, Monster Squad, RoboCop, Rock and Roll High School, Valley Girl, 10, Short Circuit, Rosemary’s Baby, TAPS, Clash of the Titans, CHiPs, Summer School, Revenge of the Nerds, Oh! God, The Warriors, etc- it will only get worse over the next 3 years. HOLLYWOOD NEEDS TO FIRE EVERYONE IN CHARGE, AND BRING IN PEOPLE WITH ORIGINALITY AND CREATIVITY! The current Powers That Be are nothing more than Rip-Off artists! Besides, remakes almost always fail- so only 1 or 2 of these will be good, the rest will be terrible!
Why must they constantly ruin our great original movies? Just leave the the old ones alone there is nothing wrong with them. If they make this I suggest a boycott.
His “advisors” said he shouldn’t do it?
What a pratt.
FOOTLOOSE DOES NOT NEED TO BE REMADE.
Zaac is nuts. It helped make Kevin Bacon into the star he is today.
Ben Stiller hasn’t done anything in a while. He’d be perfect.
Kevin, while I do agree that remakes are often pointless, there are certainly some that do not fail. I believe Charleton Heston’s remake of a little silent movie called “Ben Hur” proves that. Remakes in Hollywood are nothing new and have existed as long as the medium.
Remakes are awesome (sarcasm). Let’s remake The Princess Bride!
They should just NOT remake it in my opinion.
OMG, please. It’s bad enough the powers-that-be in Hollywood choose to ignore screenwriters with original ideas these days (THEY AREN’T PROVEN! WE CAN’T HAVE THAT!) and go for remaking 20-25-year-old movies because they did well back then (huh?), but casting Zac Efron?? I guess the 80’s version is for us 30’s-and-up somethings while this one is for the new generation. He is NO Kevin Bacon. In fact, he seems like a bit of a douchebag.
I guess we’ll have Lindsey Lohan, Zac Efron and a bunch of NEW 90210-Wannabees in the Breakfast Club remake?
This is why I don’t throw away good money going to the movies. Bleh.
I don’t think they should remake a classic movie.. But if they must (eye rolling and sigh of disgust) and I’m sure they will I think they should get an unknown person..
I think Christopher Walken dances better. ask him
What the article doesn’t make clear is that this is not a remake per se but a film version of the broadway show that was based on the movie. I think Zac’s handlers are wrong in advising him against making the film. He is this generations John Travolta. Look at what the orginial film did for Kevin Bacon.
Efron is great in his own right. But Efron not right for Footloose. Choose someone with a little tad intensity.
I predict that Zac Efron will soon fall in to obscurity.
I don’t see the point. Hollywood appears to believe that Efron is a sizable attration to teen girls and this would be a nice project to be involved in. Still it just dosen’t feel right to remake that film. Efron is no Kevin Bacon. My best guess why Efron has pulled out is the script is bad.
http://www.entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com/
Chuck
Footloose would suck if remade. The original was great, but only because of the time it was made and the people involved with it. Just because it worked then does not mean it’d work now. It’s just not believable for this generation. Hollywood needs to get a clue. Do more original movies for teens like nick and norah. How will a generation get to define themselves in the movies if all they ever do is copy other generations milestones? I’d feel left out if I was a teenager/twentysomething nowadays.
Thank God!
Let’s be honest; this movie was a joke when the original came out and it would only be more of a joke if remade. I don’t know about everyone else but I laughed at how bad that movie was throughout the entire film. The only good thing Footloose had to offer was the soundtrack; and one of the better song was left till the end credits!! So good ahead; remake Footloose, I bet it’s funnier the second time around. With or without Zac Efron, although with would probably be even funnier!
Maybe the reason for so many re-makes of the “oldies” is because there isn’t anything decent or worthwhile coming out in the way of “newbies” anymore.