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Zac Efron Cast in Footloose Remake

Wed, 07/11/2007 - 9:30am by BuzzSugar
19,786 Views - 58 comments


Let me preface this by saying I couldn't have cared less about Zac Efron — until I went to the Hairspray screening. And kind of fell in love a little. Which is almost inappropriate given the age difference, but hey, it's working for Ashton and Demi, right? Then, of course, there are photos like these that make me rethink young Efron's charms. So I don't know how I feel about this kid. He's pretty cute (underneath all the makeup) and he's definitely got some charisma onscreen. But today's casting news has me worried.

First off, a Footloose remake?
Now, my recast challenges are all in fun and harmless because, well, these perfect-the-first-time movies and TV shows are not actually being remade. This, however, is real. Footloose is actually going to be remade... by Kenny Ortega, the director of High School Musical. But... but... why?

Secondly, Zac Efron? Really?
As I just said, I like the kid, I really do. But can he "play Ren McCormack, the rebellious newcomer (originally played by Kevin Bacon) in a town where dancing has been banned"? Can he brood? Will he appropriately "kick off your Sunday shoes"?

What do you think? Can Efron handle this iconic role?

Efron photo source

View Photos: Kevin Bacon Zac Efron

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58 Comments Add a Comment

  • Ejmcmis's picture
    Ejmcmis
    1

    BUZZ: TOTALLY WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY TOO MUCH MAKE-UP & BRONZER

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Ejmcmis's picture
    Ejmcmis
    2

    maybe I'm showing my age though, but I never understood the whole high-school musical disney thing. AT ALL!
    .
    I don't know why though, but I get the feeling that this guy is another quuen latifah / wentworth miller/ jodie foster / anderson cooper in the closet kinda-guy....
    .
    I really dont think i'm the only one feelin this vibe, no?

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Ejmcmis's picture
    Ejmcmis
    3

    He is kinda cute though,, but to re-make footloose is just WRONG!!!! on EVERY LEVEL!!!!

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Ejmcmis's picture
    Ejmcmis
    4

    I need to shut up now....
    .
    .
    {stepping off of the soapbox and taking it with me}
    .

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • janemast's picture
    janemast
    5

    Nooooo! Why do people like him? He's the tannest person I've ever seen! Looks wayyy too girly, with the tan and the highlihts.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • xo_verity's picture
    xo_verity
    7

    NOOOOO! WHYYY!? THEY CANNOT DO A FOOTLOOSE REMAKE! ITS ONE OF MY FAOVURITE MOVIE OF TH 80s! Grrrr!

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • davie_k's picture
    davie_k
    8

    Shame on them to try and remake perfection... and no way can Zac Efron replace Kevin Bacon, he's not going to be kicking off his sunday shoes... more like keep his "goodie-to-shoes" on!

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • ALSW's picture
    ALSW
    10

    I know nothing about Zac Efron, but they CANNOT remake Footloose! It's like remaking The Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles - movies that helped to define an era. Don't redo it, I beg you!

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • jenintx's picture
    jenintx
    11

    *weeps silently at the atrocity known as a footloose ruining...er, remake*

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • jhuck's picture
    jhuck
    12

    Dear Hollywood, please stop remaking movies. There's got to be something that hasn't been done yet, and there have got to be people out there with new ideas!

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • alynn's picture
    alynn
    13

    Disappointed but not surprised about the remake. Originality seems rare in big studio Hollywood. Just look at Zac Efron's other recent movie. John Water's Hairspray should never been redone. Avoiding on principle.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • pinkflats's picture
    pinkflats
    14

    that's it hollywood is running out of original ideas. and zac efron is footloose. blah.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Daisie's picture
    Daisie
    15

    *sigh* Ok....first. WHY?!?!? We do not need a remake of this film! It is WAY too soon to be remaking some of these movies! ARGH!!! Second, is this just bevause this boy can only sing and dance and he needs an outlet? Third....how do I put this....has anyone ever seen Grease? Of course you have! He's "too pure to be pink". No...he is too femme and not rough/bad boy/sexy like Kevin was. Also, he's too young. No. NO. NO! Putting this Mickey Mouse teeny bopper in this role will ruin the "iconic" status of the flick and make it into a tween flick, sans the sexual tension, pure rebellion, and naughty/mean parts that truly showcased the characters and their motivations. It just feels, to me, like it will be watered down and spray-painted faux tan with sparkles. Boo.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Daisie's picture
    Daisie
    16

    ALSW - I agree with you. Some movies simply should not be remade. Remakes of obscure 40's flicks that we've never heard of are neat...but iconic film or even films from less than 20 years ago are a no-no. There ARE people with original ideas....it's just that Hollywood won't make or buy those flicks. You have to go indie for that stuff. Support your local indie film makers! =)

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • swwonder's picture
    swwonder
    17

    Fact; I'm two days older than Zac Efron.
    Anyhoo, why the need for a remake? I'm sure Zac'll do a good job - I have a love/hate relationship with him, everything about him is so cheesy and camp. But I can't deny he's a cutie.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • swwonder's picture
    swwonder
    18

    Hmm, just read it properly and saw that the person that did HSM is working on it - I certainly don't have high hopes for this one. HSM was an awful, awful film, that I'm still trying to erase from my memory.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • malzie89's picture
    malzie89
    19

    footloose can not and should not be remade...it was perfect as it was...ken bacon will always be ren to me Eye-wink

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • sevendayrain's picture
    sevendayrain
    20

    NO!! They better not redo Footloose..please. I would have to say that no one can be kevin bacon...

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • tralalala's picture
    tralalala
    22

    ALSW....I hate to tell you this....but there have been rumours of a Breakfast Club remake for a while. Nothing is official yet, but someone has been shopping it around.

    Yes....remaking Footloose is heartbreaking, but I hate to admit that there's a good chance I'll see it.

    I know for sure I will be seeing Hairspray. Why? John Travolta....in drag.....married to Christopher Walken. You couldn't pay me to miss that. It will be amazing.

    And Daisie, it's a WAY bigger deal for them to be remaking movies from the 40s, thats horrible. Yeah, movies from the 80's are fun, but I'm significantly more upset over the rumour of a Citizen Kane remake. I'm pretty sure that the day that gets announced, is the day I'm going to kill myself. No joke.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • jhuck's picture
    jhuck
    23

    Hey Tra, I agree with you. Citizen Kane is a classic movie, and nobody should touch it. Nobody should ever try and remake any classic movie.

    Go ahead, remake the random, poorly-rated movie from the past that nobody's ever heard of. It's your money and there would be a lot of room to improve on them. But classics! You can't improve on perfection!

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Daisie's picture
    Daisie
    24

    tralala....please note that I did say "obscure films we've never heard of". =) You know how sometimes you see a flick, think it's good, and then find out it's a retold remake of something you never heard of in the first place? THAT's neat. Sometimes it works out. ^^ Not classics though. I'm sure there are a few that were redone nicely, but off the top of my head I cannot think of any.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • divinedebris's picture
    divinedebris
    25

    First I'd like to say I'm not a fan of Kevin Bacon, he scares the bejesus out of me, so I don't care if they remake one of his older films. But I do have a problem with the constant remakes, COME ON ALREADY! Stop with the remakes. I would love to go to a movie and see something that's not a sequel or a remake. But original thought has been outlawed in Hollywood. (see Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Britney Spears, and Lindsay Lohan)
    And another thing, Zac Efron is adorable. I'm a huge Disney addict, hello Disney generation here, and so I've seen High School Musical many times. He did very well in it and I think he'd be good in a Footloose remake, if it's done right.
    Also, in response to Ejmcmis' question of Zac's sexuality, he's dating his HSM costar Vanessa something or other. And I found it rude that you even posted about that.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • bellasugar's picture
    bellasugar
    26

    What I want to know is this: Will the Footloose remake be set in the present-day? It seems laughable that any modern-day town would ban dancing.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • JennaV's picture
    JennaV
    27

    I agree with bella. It was actually kinda laughable to be as a 10 year old kid back in 1984.....I can just imagine how ridiculous it would be now. I love the original movie though and think the remake is a baaaaaad idea.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • californiagirlx7's picture
    californiagirlx7
    28

    Yeah they need to stop remaking movies and come up with some original ones. I just don't see the need for a Footloose remake.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Phasekitty's picture
    Phasekitty
    29

    I've never actually seen Footloose and know nothing about Zac Efron, but I had to giggle at this piece. I was just reading an article in Entertainment Weekly on the two new leads in Grease that were cast on that reality show. The new Danny was saying that his whole life he wanted to play Kevin Bacon's lead in Footloose if they ever did a remake. He even had a quote that was something like, ya hear that Hollywood? Tee hee, sorry buddy.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • shannonkay's picture
    shannonkay
    30

    I'm not sure about Zac Efron, I do like High School Musical, but not because of him. The only reason I'd pay any serious attention to this piece of news is Kenny Ortega. I love Kenny Ortega!

    Another thing that I didn't see brought up is the broadway version of Footloose. Is it possible that they could be doing another movie version, based not on the original movie, but on the stage adaption? That could actually work better than an update of the movie.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • shannonkay's picture
    shannonkay
    31

    Oh yeah; just in case people aren't familiar, Kenny Ortega choreographed Dirty Dancing, Pretty in Pink, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off and directed Newsies. Yes, Newsies with Christian Bale.

    1 year 26 weeks ago Report Comment
  • redsmurf99's picture
    redsmurf99
    34

    NOOOOOOOOOO! What is next, "Flashdance", "Breakfast Club", "Dirty Dancing"? This is a travesty!

    I think this kid is too much of a clay aiken look alike for my tastes..however, my 13 year old niece loves him so I am sure the movie will (unfortunately) do well... sigh...

    1 year 25 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Yawhite's picture
    Yawhite
    36

    Has everyone forgotten that footloose was already remade? sure it was remade into a stage musical, but remade never the less. I love the original movie, but I don't think this remake will be trying to redifine the original movie or in any way replace Kevin Baacon as ren. As for Zac Efron plaing the role, I honestly don't know. he's got alot of charisma and has proved himself in campy cult features, and if anyone saw that movie he was in with Mary-Louise Parker they probably have a little more faith in him then others. I think he deserves a chance, though I don't think there's any gauruntee he'll succeed with the role. Plus I'ma fan of Kenny Ortega despite his directing The Cheetah Girls 2, just look at Newsies or any other films he's done, they're all catchy and fun.

    1 year 25 weeks ago Report Comment
  • VMars's picture
    VMars
    37

    NO!!!! Don't remake Footloose. It is a classic. Please don't destroy it.

    1 year 25 weeks ago Report Comment
  • VMars's picture
    VMars
    38

    NO!!!! Don't remake Footloose. It is a classic. Please don't destroy it.

    1 year 25 weeks ago Report Comment
  • I_love_fashion's picture
    I_love_fashion
    41

    weel at least they arnt remaking breakfast at tiffanys with some disney sh*t like vanessa hudgens or miley cyrus(cant spell 4 sh*te!) in audreys shoes!

    1 year 25 weeks ago Report Comment
  • sparkle spaz 64's picture
    sparkle spaz 64
    42

    okay. I'm not one to even comment like this, but something has to be said.

    I think what people are getting so upset about is the fact that they think Hollywood is remaking the movie- they are not. They are making a movie adaptation of the Broadway musical, which is based on the Kevin Bacon movie. Same with Hairspray. First it was the movie by John Waters [amazing, one of the favorites in my personal collection], then it was a Broadway show [double-amazing, one of my favorite shows I've ever seen], and now it is a Movie Musical [amazingamazingamazing, I couldn't control my level of excitment in the theatre- I got chills]. This is what they'll be doing with Footloose. Opening it up to those who haven't seen the Broadway show or even the original movie will give a whole new generation an interest in the theatre and just plain awesome music and acting, period.

    When I heard that Zac Efron was going to play Link Larkin in the movie adaptation of Broadway's Hairspray, I almost peed my pants, I was so excited. When I found out he'd be playing Ren McCormick in the movie adaptation of Broadway's Footloose, I actually did pee my pants, because not only was I excited to see this different take on such a treasured story, but I was excited to see Mr. Efron bring to life just another musical theatre icon. I'm really impressed with his artistic decisions so far and can't wait to see what's next for him.

    So for all those who are hating this casting decision and this movie idea, I ask you all just to back off. If you don't like Zac, fine. Don't like him. But don't trash something that will change someone else's life- because you know what, someone somewhere will watch that movie [whether it be Hairspray, Footloose, or even frickin' High School Musical] and they'll try out for their school play and then they might be the next Broadway star. At least, that's how it happened for them- John Travolta, Kevin Bacon... the theatre gave them their voice. And I hope that's how it happens for me. Right now, I'm just a senior in high school with aspirations of being a Musical Theatre major, but I hope that someday I can be much more [hell, tell me when and where the audtions are for this thing and I'll be there in a second]. It's thanks to movies and musicals like these that I can even hope to have these dreams.

    Think about it.

    1 year 24 weeks ago Report Comment