Not too long after Zac Efron dropped out of new version of Footloose last year, it was announced that the lead role would be played by Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford.
Then director Kenny Ortega dropped out and eventually so did Chace who is not really known for his dancing.
But the project lives on!
It’s just been announced that newcomer Kenny Wormald has emerged from a nationwide search to land the role of Ren McCormack, a part that made Kevin Bacon into a big star in the original film nearly 30 years ago.
Kenny joins the already cast Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid and Miles Teller. He is a Boston native who appeared in the MTV series Dancelife and recently toured with Justin Timberlake.
Paramount has set April 1, 2011 for the film’s release with production set to begin in August. Craig Brewer is now the director of the project.
It's proving to be difficult to fill Kevin Bacon's famous dancing shoes.
After initially taking the signature role of Ren McCormack in the remake of Footloose, Chace Crawford has backed out, Entertainment Weekly reports. Zac Efron previously declined to take the role for fear of being typecast.
Crawford, 24, will apparently be too busy shooting Gossip Girl this summer to find time for the film shoot.
Paramount Pictures is now inclined to cast an unknown in the role, made famous by Bacon in the original 1984 film, EW says. The studio could even launch a nationwide search for the role.
Paramount is having lots of headaches with Footloose, having also lost a director and switched scripts.
Gossip Girl hottie Chace Crawford will be kicking off his Sunday shoes in the remake of Footloose, stepping into the void left behind when Zac Efron dropped out.
Crawford, 23, will play Ren McCormack, the rebellious dancing high schooler who launched the career of a then 25-year-old Kevin Bacon, Paramount Pictures has announced.
High School Musical star Efron told EW.com he passed on the role because he didn't want to be type-cast as the musical guy and was searching instead for "the unknown."
Footloose, to be directed by High School Musical's Kenny Ortega, is set to begin shooting in March 2010.
Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford has reportedly auditioned to fill Zac Efron's dancing shoes in the remake of "Footloose".
The High School Musical actor was slated to take over Kevin Bacon's lead role in the updated film, but pulled out earlier this month.
And now Crawford is being lined up for the part and has impressed movie studio bosses with his screen test, according to E! Online.
A source tells the website, "He did really well."
High School Musical hunk Zac Efron won't be getting Footloose anytime soon - the actor has pulled out of the movie remake.
Efron was slated to take over Kevin Bacon's lead role in the updated film, but Paramount Pictures executives have confirmed he's no longer their star.
A statement reads, "Footloose is a project we've longed to see rebooted for a new generation. While Zac is no longer attached, we remain excited."
Not too long after Zac Efron dropped out of new version of Footloose last year, it was announced that the lead role would be played by Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford.
