Kenny Ortega out as director of FOOTLOOSE remake
Over the weekend, director Kenny Ortega (who is currently busy with the upcoming release of THIS IS IT), quit as helmer of the FOOTLOOSE remake. The original pitch for the remake seemed to hinge on the popularity of the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL franchise, as Ortega (who directed all three HSMs) was set to reunite with his HSM star, Zac Efron, who was ready to get his feet appropriately loose. But, back in May, we got word that “Gossip Girl” star Chace Crawford was taking over the dancing shoes, as Efron wanted to expand his acting repertoire beyond musicals.
Ortega has apparently left the project due to “disagreements [with] Paramount over ‘tone and budget.’” Ortega’s vision of FOOTLOOSE saw it as a $30 million dancing spectacular, complete with big budget musical numbers. Anyone who has seen the original FOOTLOOSE knows that, while the film’s plot revolves around dancing, the film is not a musical. Ortega’s take on the project would have changed that. For a traditional musical, Efron as leading man simply made sense. The addition of Crawford diminished that idea, as Crawford has never done a musical before. Now, word is that production chief Adam Goodman wants to make an “edgier drama with less emphasis on musical numbers.”
Oddly enough, a couple of weeks ago I happened to be watching the original FOOTLOOSE. Fine, it was not “odd,” I love that movie and I love young Kevin Bacon. Rewatching the film, I attempted to picture Chace Crawford as Ren McCormack. It was a tough sell, even to myself. As a dancing lead, Crawford didn’t compute. But now, as a dramatic leading man? I’m even more flummoxed. Ren is a gritty, sexy outsider who turns a whole town on its ear, without mining all the traditional coming-of-age story notes (not to say the film is not without its cheese factor). Crawford does not telegraph gritty in the slightest. But, with the right director, Crawford could surprise us all and turn in a great performance he’s never been able to before. But with no director on the slate? Things don’t look good.
“Dancing with the Stars” professional dancer and country singer Julianne Hough is to play the female lead (Ariel Moore, as played by Lori Singer in the original). Production is still set to begin in March. The budget is now rumored to be in the $25 million range.
GATWers, any ideas for a new director for the FOOTLOOSE remake? Or should it stay feet on the ground and just not get made without Ortega and Efron?
Source MTV
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