Zac Efron won’t be getting “Footloose”
Zac Efron (Associated Press photo)
“High School Musical” star Zac Efron won’t be starring in the remake of the 1984 movie musical “Footloose,” according to several online sources, including EW.com.
Efron was attached to the project for more than a year and was set to play the starring role originated by Kevin Bacon.
Paramount confirmed Monday that Efron has danced away from the remake, but vowed to go on without the young star’s proven song-and-dance talents.
“‘Footloose’ is a project we’ve longed to see re-booted for a new generation. While Zac is no longer attached, we remain excited and committed to the collective brain trust of Kenny Ortega, Neil Meron and Craig Zaden, who will reinvigorate the franchise. Their fresh take on the film will undoubtedly be filled with the same kind of breakout performances that we’ve come to expect from them,” Paramount said in a statement quoted by EW.com.
But it’s hard to imagine who will replace Efron in the remake, unless “HSM” mastermind Ortega turns to another talent in his stable of Disney Channel stars, Lucas Grabeel or maybe Corbin Bleu is Paramount is willing to go with color-blind casting. It’s not like there are that many proven song-and-dance actors who could pass for high schoolers floating around Hollywood these days.
Reportedly, Efron decided to leave “Footloose” so he could avoid being typecast as a musical man after his break out in the “HSM” franchise and his subsequent success in the remake of “Hairspray.” It’s a logical reasoning on his part, but it makes you wonder why he signed on for “Footloose” in the first place.
Efron will next appear with Matthew Perry and Leslie Mann in the comedy “17 Again,” due in theaters April 17.
-BAM
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i was thnkinking he will be a good aoter of footloose movie
i not want him two give up on footloose i want him go out there two make a movie one of life time i not want his fan will be not unhappy two see him not in it zac efron put on his fan’s smile up two see him in the footloose movie i not
want him two give up.