Speaking exclusively to EW.com, Kenny Ortega said he pulled out of the Footloose remake that’s set to star Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl) and Julianne Hough (Dancing with the Stars) because he was “exhausted” from directing This Is It and “wanted to take a few deep breaths and relax before I resurface.” “It was not planned,” Ortega told EW.com while attending the world premiere of the Michael Jackson movie on Tuesday. “None of this was happening when I started working on Footloose with Paramount. I honestly love the team I was working with on it — Craig Zadan, Brad Weston, Neil Meron and Dylan Sellers, the actors. It had been a wonderful couple of years developing the idea but I really need to take a break. I wish them all the luck in the world.”
Reportedly, Paramount still hopes to begin shooting in March to coincide with Crawford’s break from Gossip Girl. Ortega, who choreographed Dirty Dancing and directed the High School Musical films, still believes in the project. “They have a good idea to update it and Chace and Julianne Hough are going to be an amazing onscreen pair,” he said.
Hough, who also attended the This is It premiere, told EW.com that while she was saddened by Ortega’s decision to leave the project, she understood he “needed a break.” “He is one of the people who really believed in me in the beginning and championed my being hired,” said Hough. “I was surprised when he left the project but I know he is 100 percent committed to everything he does and he was very close to Michael and he wanted to give his all to this film and I think it just took a lot out of him. He suffered a big personal loss and because they went right into making This Is It he probably hasn’t even had time to process that loss. He probably needed a break and didn’t want to do Footloose unless he could give it his undivided attention.
“I think it will still be a good film,” Hough added, about the Footloose remake. “They have some good ideas and Chace is a cutie that all the girls love and the original is one of my favorite movies. The rumor is that it is going to be edgier than the original but to be honest we don’t start shooting until March of next year so I haven’t seen many specifics.” – With reporting from Carrie Bell
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I say that Kenny Ortega should do a movie on the 1980s.Mini series.On Tv.That would be great.I like to see A dark brown young woman play Original MTV VJ Martha Quinn.Also The MTV Video Age thru 1981 to 1989.I like to see a Handsome Black young man play pop star Michael Jackson.Also New castmembers.Also to Recreate the videos That were great back then.Like Bad Michael Jackson.1987.Dirty Diana 1988.The way you make me feel 1988.Seventeen by winger 1989,The Bangles Walk like an Egyptian 1986.Janet Jackson Nasty 1986.Other videos that were great back then.That would be great.I hope it happen Real soon,
Kenny’s a sweetheart and its kind of him to do PR for the film – he didn’t need to explain but I’m sure they appreciate it.
I admire him for stepping back and resting. Most people don’t listen to their bodies or take time to grieve when there is money to be made. And given his connection to MJ many in his position would be capitalizing on his death instead of actually grieving it. Good for him.
Since the first one was pure (but beloved) cheese, it’d pretty much HAVE to be ‘edgier’. It sure couldn’t get cheesier and not be a spoof. The original script was definately a 1980’s teen-oriented film, and the really didn;t do much with the actual darkness in the source material. But todays teens are far more sophisticated, and they could easily make a better film (at lease scriptwise). After all, the most remarkable thing about the original movie was the soundtrack – which I still remember with perfect clarity being played EVERYWHERE for at least a year.
Sad see see him go, but hopefully they’ll bring on another awesome director. Perhaps Adam Shankman? SYTYCD will be done the season by then for sure…
Kenny did the right thing. He needed to take a break so he can grieve properly. He’s been going non-stop starting with developing the memorial so it’s time to take a breath. He seems like such a genuine human being and I wish him well.