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.