'08
In another round of Hollywood remaking a movie that should be left alone, Paramount and High School Musical 3 director Kenny Ortega want to put High School Musical star Zac Efron in the role of Ren McCormack in a musical remake of Footloose.
After “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”, Hollywood newest hunk Zac Efron is likely to step into another musical role. Words are circulating in the media that “Senior Year” director Kenny Ortega wants the 20-year-old to take the lead role of the modern version of “Footloose”, insisting that Efron would be “perfect” for the role.
Revealing his desire to re-team with his Troy Bolton’s depicter, Ortega told BBC, “I think he’d be the perfect, perfect, perfect candidate to step in. I mean he’s got this global excitement, this wonderful know-how.” Further hinting that Efron may take the role once belonging to Kevin Bacon, the filmmaker then added, “He’s the perfect age, so versatile, and talented and dynamic. You know it’s hard for me to even imagine anybody that I think would be more perfectly suited.”
[From AceShowbiz]
I don’t have an issue with the casting. When it comes to musicals for the younger set, Efron certainly seems the go-to guy of the moment. He has the right look, and could, on his own, probably make the movie a hit. Even Suri Cruise is rumored to have a crush on Zac Efron. Efron is very into being the Ren for a new generation, and in keeping musicals alive in general, and I’m all for that.
About the possible part in “Footloose” remake, the Nikki Blonsky’s co-star in “Hairspray” commented, “I’ll always be open to more musicals. I think they’re fun and I think it’s our responsibility as performers to try and keep them alive. I love Footloose – it’s a great movie.”
[From AceShowbiz]
I’m not excited, however, about the trend of remaking movies that were hits only 20 years ago. I’m equally unimpressed with Footloose going the way of High School Musical. As far as movies go, Footloose would probably translate to the musical format well, it was a Broadway musical that was successful. But there’s a huge musical leap between, say, Chicago and High School Musical 1, 2 or 3. One is genuine musical genre, the other is kids bouncing around singing adsurd lyrics to unfortunate tunes. It has it’s place, but that place is the Disney channel, and needs to be kept away from classic teen movies of the 80′s.
Stay away from The Breakfast Club, Hollywood, I’m warning you.
Note by Celebitchy: Zac recently admitted that he’s been approached to take over for Daniel Radcliffe in the Broadway production of Equus. This would mean that Efron would have to get fully nude on stage, too.
Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Corbin Bleu are shown at the UK Premiere of “High School Musical 3 Senior Year” in London on 10/7/08. Credit: Lia Toby / WENN and Solarpix / PR Photos
Written by Ceilidh
Posted in Movies, Photos, Zac Efron
- Mariah Carey lip synced on American Idol [CDAN]
- Colin Firth is looking good [Lainey Gossip]
- Internet celebrity charged with murder! [D-Listed]
- What is Paz Vega wearing? [Go Fug Yourself]
- New bachelors on The Bachelorette [Reality Tea]
- Goodbye to The Office [Pajiba]
- Bachelor Sean’s fiance cheats on him [Evil Beet]
- Britney Spears out with her man [Popsugar]
- Nina Dobrev works it [Popoholic]
- Cindy Crawford needs to lay off the ‘tox [Celebslam]
- Who said it: Carrie Bradshaw or The Dalai Lama? [Buzzfeed]
Don’t think teens today will go for the scene where Ren dances alone around the mill doing gymnastics!
Zac is cute but he doesn’t have that tough edge that Bacon has.
Terrible choice to remake.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
“Stay away from The Breakfast Club, Hollywood, I’m warning you.”
I’m with you! That JCPennys ad was bad enough. Did anyone else see that? It was horrible.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I absolutely DESPISED the JCPenney ads too! I cringed every time it came on.
Is it just me or does anyone else think he’s just too feminine looking for a role like Ren? I agree with Sandy, he just doesn’t have an edge – not even a rounded corner. Put a little mascara on him, blusher and a wig – you’d have the next female lead. I’m not trying to be mean, he just has that effect on me. Pretty, but not handsome
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I love this site,so many people i agree with.I dont understand whats the atraction to this “boy”.God.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
He’s an alright looking kid, but he’s damn sure no Ren McCormack!
Report this comment as spam or abuse
After being forced to sit through High School Musical 2 last night by my babysitting charges…I really dislike this guy. He just gives me the creeps, and his eyebrows are BLUE through that whole movie.
Please make him go away….please?
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Blue eyebrows? How natural.
How old is this kid? Give him a few years, some boozing & some hollywood hussies and I think he might turn out kinda hot.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
ANd Vanessa will be doing Flasdance… and Zac and Vanessa will be doing Dirty Dancing… and Zac, Vanessa, Corbin, and Titsdale will be doing Grease… and so on and so forth . I hope not.
I will say his hair looks much better like that, without his trademark fringe bangs.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
he comes across as such a snob.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
He’s another one of those ‘boyfriends’ whose just one step up from being lesbian. Little fruity-pants.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
He is ok))) Just stick a cigarette in his mouth and give him different haircut and he will be hOOOOt))) And …. don’t forget to dispose this stupid GF of his…
Report this comment as spam or abuse
You left out one element, Helen- he has to actually grow a dick.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I’m with the majority – Kevin Bacon he aint. He looks like a ken doll – way too much makeup. Absolutely no character to his face. Bacon was what… 28-30-ish when Footloose was made? This teeny-bopper needs to live a little first. Then again how about they just forget the whole idea of remaking Footloose.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
vdantev, he doesn’t have one?))) To bad for him)
Anyway, he is too young for me)
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Kevin was about 26 when Footloose was made, and John Lithgow and Dianne Wiest were only a few years (9-13) older than Kevin and Lori Singer….clearly not old enough to be their parents!
Loved that movie though, and I hate to see it remade. What a nightmare!
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Heh, I must have been the only person to read this header and think: YEAH!
I know people find Efron questionable but I think he’s cute – and I’d probably watch this remake. He was way better than I thought he’d be in Hairspray.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
If Blue Brows and his friends remake Grease I will burn down Hollywood.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Yeah the kid’s cute but his face lacks character. Like FeeBee said, Kevin Bacon he ain’t. Call me when he becomes a man. As for Hollywood remaking The Breakfast Club, I would personally take out a contract hit on any director that dared to do so.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Stop remaking movies Hollywood!!!!
Good God can nobody in Hollywood come up with something new and original?? Why cheapen good movies by remaking them?? Oh, and btw, while they’re at it they can stop making sequels and prequels to just about everything also… Everyone I know thinks both of those trends are heinous… Bad way to make a quick buck and tarnish things that are oh-so-dear to millions of us. 
Report this comment as spam or abuse
That is one ulgy chick…. Wait What…. that’s a dude???????
Report this comment as spam or abuse
vdantev, he doesn’t have one?))) To bad for him)
I’m sure there’s something down there the pee comes out of, that more closely resembles a distended vulva than a dick.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Actually, it wasn’t a successful Broadway musical. It got bad reviews and lost millions of dollars, and even forcing the tour on regional theaters’ subscription bases didn’t help it break even.
More proof they shouldn’t screw with success.
Why not support new works? Too “risky”. At least with pretty boy bland, the premenarchal set will ensure it turns a profit.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I totally despise this trend to making remake after remake. Sometimes they are actually okay – I loved Johnny Depp’s version of Willie Wonka, although I also loved Gene Wilder’s version. But most of the time it’s a poor imitation and an insult to the original.
Where is the creativity?
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Unnecessary remake.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
zac!!! happy bday !!!!!!!!!!!!!1 i’m youre biggest fannnnn!!!!!
wow how cute!!!!!! i love yaaa!!!!!
Report this comment as spam or abuse
so the new footloose with zac in it has already come out?
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I don’t think that this movie should be remade either, but if I had to chose someone who had to play Ren. I would chose the guy from Dancing with the Stars. Julianne Huff’s brother… He is a hottie and has the moves.
Report this comment as spam or abuse