In about as polite a manner as he could muster, teenage heartthrob Zac Efron confessed to EW.com why he said no to the Footloose remake: He didn’t want to be type-cast as the musical guy. In Las Vegas to receive the Showest Breakthrough Performer of the Year award, Efron confirmed what many in the industry had speculated. “I’m sure Footloose would have been a huge challenge,” Efron said, “but the actors that I love and the actors that work really hard in this industry are always shaking things up, trying new genres, acquiring new skill sets. That’s what’s always going to appeal to me: the unknown.” So Efron’s trading in those dancing shoes for a shovel in The Death & Life of Charlie St. Cloud at Universal. Reuniting with 17 Again director Burr Stears, Efron will play a young man who takes a job as a cemetery caretaker where his younger brother has recently been buried. He has weekly meetings with his deceased sibling and begins a romantic relationship with a young woman believed to be missing in a sailing accident. He’s not sure if she is real or an apparition.
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Comments (1-30) of 45 Add your comment
Zac Efron AKA Little Miss Grown-Up
well… they shouldn’t remake footloose anyway… especially with pretty boy Zac Efron… yuck
That’s almost sad in a way, even though this whole remake was a huge mistake from the start–Efron’s always had an (obviously lesser, don’t start screaming) Gene-Kelly-esque effortless song-and-dance-man vibe to him. For all the ridiculousness of the High School Musical series, Efron doesn’t get the credit he deserves for making them even watchable. “Footloose” still probably shouldn’t be made, but if it is going to be then I can’t imagine any other young actor who would have done as close to a good job as Efron would have. Who are they going to use now, Chace Crawford? They might as well save money and use a cardboard cutout.
And I’m a little leery of mocking Efron for wanting to follow a different career trajectory than expected–isn’t that, to be, you know…commended? He’s said more than once that he wants to try a Leonardo Dicaprio/Johnny Depp climb from teen idol to serious actor, and even if he can’t manage it it’s gutsy of him to take a riskier path. I wish him all the best.
Look — I’m not a fan of Footloose. As a child of the ’80s, I can honestly say the film never resonated with me, but I do remember how popular it was.
If Footloose were going to be remade utilizing the Broadway musical format (see: Hairspray), then it would make perfect financial sense to use Kenny Ortega and Troy — uh, Zac Efron. Though he’s no thespian, Efron made an impression on millions of teenage girls, though my own daughter (a huge Efron fan a few years ago) has moved on to Nick Jonas.
Efron dropping out has all but doomed Footloose, and to that I say: Meh.
I think we’ll survive without another remake — Do you hear me makers of Land of the Lost, Fame, Tr2n, The Taking of Pelham 123, et al?!?
Anytime I see someone dropping out of a project because they want to “stretch their creative legs”, it makes me shudder. This is the same mentality that gave us John Wayne as Genghis Khan.
So he gives up Footloose to do….”17 Again”??? What genius of a manager would suggest that? People like Bruce Willis, Arnold, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, etc. etc. made out quite well for themselves making the same kind of movie over and over again until they were established. And I would argue that they all have more talent than Zac Efron. Seems to me he’s not getting the best career advice.
Silly, silly man. Especially considering that most actors today are typecast anyway, whether it’s the “action guy”, or the “drama guy” or the “raunchy comedy guy”.
I suspect that a lot of this has to do with old stereotypes about what “musical guy” is usually associated with in the minds of moviegoers (Musicals are for gays! THE HORROR!) and Efron didn’t want to be that. Ironically since he sports more makeup and mascara than any girls I know, I would worry about that tarnishing my heterosexual image more than being in musical films…
He has no screen presence, charisma or talent and will be forgotten shortly. His tacky management can manipulate all they like but you cant make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
The set up story about Efron and the girl from Harry Potter made me laugh. So transparent. They try and copy Pattinson but he has all three – charisma, talent and sex appeal.
I’m proud of him. I think it is smart move on his part. And I think he really outshines his fellow screenmates. He’s got great potential.
Good for Zac. And having the opportunity to be in something “fresh”, rather than another Hollywood remake for remake’s sake is a good decision for a young career. (Just wish he’d bring along Corbin Bleu… I’m a Chad girl)
Footloose isn’t a musical….
To “Footloose isn’t a musical”
Um, this new movie is a film version of the Broadway musical “Footloose” which was adapted for the stage based on the 1980’s film (which had music and dancing, but was not a musical.) This new version is not so much a remake of the 80’s film, but rather a film version of the stage musical.
Oh yeah, and I should have added that Efron is an idiot. The success of this film would have rivaled that of his HSM franchise, as well as put him in a league of actors who are noted for their “dramatic gravitas” or “comic genius” and taken quite seriously as actors, but got their start in musicals and return to them on occaision. They include but are not limited to: Christopher Walken, Steve Martin, John Travolta, Richard Gere, Mandy Patinkin, Ewan MacGregor, Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, to name just a few. Not a bad roster to be on, eh? Nice move Zac, ya moron…I say, here today, gone tomorrow…
And I forgot probably currently the most famous ‘Musical’ alum out there. Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman!!!
I think they should STOP remaking movies first of all & footloose wasn’t a musical!
While I’ll admit I’m disappointed that he won’t be a part of the new musical Footloose movie (if it even gets off the ground without him), I’m proud that he’s realized fairly early in his career that he can shift gears now and avoid being pigeonholed into certain genres. He’s truly an amazing talent, and I’m sure he will be more than happy to return to musicals in the future. I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for him!
I’m thinking footloose probably will do better commercially than The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud. This may not be the smartest career he has made but only time will tell
Something tells me ZE isn’t a “commercially acceptable” driven actor. Sure he did all 3 HSMs but since then he seems to be trying to, like he said, shake things up with varying roles. Good for him. At this point he’s still in it for the acting and not solely for the paycheck and notoriety.
Not that I think Footloose can be successfully remade given so many people identify with the Kevin Bacon film. But that is just plain stupid for Zac to turn down the movie for fear of being stereotyped as a musical guy. He’s not George Clooney who can pick his movies and turn down ones he doesn’t want. Zac is just at the beginning of his career and he shouln’t turning down roles he has gotten. And really, if Footloose succeeds; it could be much bigger than High School Musical. He’s always going to be identified with High School Musical…no matter where he goes with his career or if he wins an Oscar one day. Stupid decision. But then on the other hand I didn’t want him in the role anyway; so for me no lost. But a stupid decision on his behalf…
I think that you all missed the point of this news. Zac Efron likes working with Burr Steers so he is making another movie with him. As a director, Burr Steer must create a really great work environment for actors. So what stars might Burr Steer attract to his projects in the future? Anne Hathaway?
I’m glad he isn’t doing Footloose. Although the role he has next sounds iffy, he does need to get more adult roles. Hopefully he made a good impression on Leslie Mann so she can help him get work with Judd Apatow. Imagine seeing Zac next to Seth Rogan or Bill Hader? hahahaha that’ll be interesting
I think this was a very smart move. First, I think the Footloose Musical was just a bad idea. I just can’t imagine it working. Second, he does need to start looking for roles that will establish him as a serious actor. I think 17 Again is a good transition movie. Hopefully he’ll have some success with this movie and others.
First of all Zac looks like an elf and couldn’t act to save his life. And he has the worst haircut in Hollywood. I wish this scary looking kid would just disappear.
Hello…Footloose was not a musical!! Zac needs to watch the orginial movie. I think he is the one and only person who would be perfect for the remake. I hope he will change his mind. No matter how hard he tries to be a serious actor, he’s always going to be remembers has the teen from High School Musical.
He is being polite. The real reason is, there is no good reason to remake “Footloose,” and it is sure to bomb. But he is also correct, in that too few musicals get made for anyone to have a career in just musicals now. He needs to branch out.
He can do both and I hope that he still does decide to do it. If not how about derek hough from dancing with the stars?
To Rae: They are remaking Footloose as a musical, FYI.
I think it’s funny how everyone’s saying Footloose isn’t a musical. It’s been on Broadway for years.
The bottom line is he committed to footloose. I don’t think this movie would have been a bad career move. If anything, the bad career move was making himself look unreliable and irresponsible which also makes him seem somewhat into himself and this could be deadly for his reputation in hollywood. I don’t know if I like post Disney Zac.
He’s a good-looking guy but those are a dime a dozen in Hollywood. He’s a mediocre actor at best and should take the roles while they are being offered to him.
I don’t think Zac Efron is right for “Footloose,” anyway. “People” (magazine online) asked who it should be with Efron passing, with choices like whatsisname from DWTS (Daryl Hough?) and David Cook from American Idol. I think Jason Tam, who is very cute and talented and did both “A Chorus Line” and “One Life to Live,” would be 900% better than either of them. Danny, Neil or Mark from SYTYCD would also be good choices, at least to audition. I don’t know why Zac Efron is the go-to guy for musical or dance roles when there are so many other choices who are so much more talented.