Zac Efron, who became an overnight tween sensation with High School Musical and High School Musical 2 and the remake of would have stepped into his fifth musical, the remake of Footloose but decided against it. (Zac Efron’s fourth film,got the BIG SCREEN treatment in 2009). The original 1984 Footloose movie made a star out of Kevin Bacon and launched the movie career of star Sarah Jessica Parker. Paramount Pictures relieved Zac Efron from his Footloose contract. And on May 19, 2009 it was announced that Chace Crawford would be ‘stepping’ into the role. As luck would have it, Chace Crawford’s dancing skills weren’t up to par so he was let go from the film. Who’d have thought a gay couldn’t dance? Following an extensive worldwide search, newcomer Kenny Wormald plays the role of Ren, opposite previously announced star Julianne Hough – gay Ryan Seacrest’s beard (as of the film’s release) – as Ariel. Dennis Quaid also joins the cast in the role of Reverend Moore, which was played by John Lithgown in the original film. Director Kenny Ortega was originally in charge of the remake but quit and was immediately replaced by director Craig Brewer.
As if all of this behind the scenes drama isn’t enough – the movie was originally expexted to hit theaters in 2008 – it was then penciled in for a U.S. theatrical release date of April 1, 2011. Yes, April Fool’s Day. But things changed yet again. Footloose dances its way into theaters October 14, 2011.
Writer/Director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Black Snake Moan) delivers a new take of the beloved 1984 classic film, Footloose. Ren MacCormack (played by newcomer Kenny Wormald) is transplanted from Boston to the small southern town of Bomont where he experiences a heavy dose of culture shock. A few years prior, the community was rocked by a tragic accident that killed five teenagers after a night out and Bomont’s local councilmen and the beloved Reverend Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid) responded by implementing ordinances that prohibit loud music and dancing. Not one to bow to the status quo, Ren challenges the ban, revitalizing the town and falling in love with the minister’s troubled daughter Ariel (Julianne Hough) in the process.
Gag us, now!
