"Let's Hear it for the boys": Zac Efron and Kenny Ortega

[DrTheatre]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 12:23pm

"After the stellar box-office premiere of "High School School Musical 3: Senior Year" — the latest installment in the hit Disney film franchise brought in $42 million in the U.S. during the Oct. 24-26 weekend — Paramount Pictures has decided to fast-track the remount of the 1984 film "Footloose," according to Variety.

As previously reported, Paramount plans to reunite the star and director of "High School Musical 3," Zac Efron and Kenny Ortega, respectively, for the remake, which will begin production in the spring.

Peter Sollett will rewrite Jon Hartmere's original "Footloose" script, and Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have been brought on to co-produce the film with Dylan Sellers. Zadan and Meron's numerous producing credits include the movie musicals "Chicago" and "Hairspray"; the latter marked the feature-film debut of fast-rising star Efron, who is reportedly about to sign a seven-figure deal for "Footloose."

Some of the film's original tunes, which include "Let's Hear It for the Boy," "Almost Paradise," "Holding Out for a Hero" and, of course, "Footloose," are expected to be part of the new version, although new songs are also being penned for the remake.

The original Herb Ross-directed "Footloose" starred a young Kevin Bacon and spawned a number-one selling soundtrack.

Footloose was also seen on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where it opened in October 1998, playing 18 previews and 709 regular performances before closing July 2, 2000. Directed by Walter Bobbie, the cast featured Jeremy Kushnier as Ren, the rebellious teenager who moves to a small town where dance is forbidden."

[xxdrewboy85xx]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 12:25pm

wow this is a bad idea...

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 12:43pm

Great! Soon to be bombing at an empty theater near you! The sooner this automaton's career is over, the better.

[bethnor]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 1:57pm

i'm not a fan by any means and was shocked at how horrible his acting seemed in previews for this new movie of his with matt perry. that being said, do you really think this movie will be a financial bomb? never underestimate the power of the TWEENS.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 2:06pm

He is ridiculously untalented and even more ridiculously unattractive.

Or is it just me...?

[blondebaby589]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 2:42pm

Why would they add a bunch of new songs from the movie version when there's already a musical that has added a bunch of new songs? And better question, why would they make a Footloose remake?!

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 2:50pm

I think by 'new songs,' they might have been from the musical but not in the original film? I don't know. I do think that Zac Efron is indeed ridiculously unattractive (his eyebrows and facial expressions are incredibly gross), but I also think Kevin Bacon is ridiculously unattractive.

I'm not a fan of Zac Efron at all, but I do think that playing the lead in Footloose is probably the best-cast role for Efron that I can think of. And Footloose is actually a movie that might do well remade. I liked the original movie, but it seemed really dated when I saw it, and I remember thinking I wish there was a more modern version.

He DOES look terrible in that movie with Matt Perry.

[fishergirl819]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 3:02pm

I'll be the first one to pop in here and be really excited - I LOVE Zac Efron (he makes the 12 year old girl trapped in my 24 year old body swoon), and I absolutely fell in love with the idea of him being in this remake when they first started to talk about it last summer. SO HAPPY to hear that they're actually moving forward with it this time.

[stagescreen]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 3:07pm

First a FAME remake, now a FOOTLOOSE remake???

[blondebaby589]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 3:49pm

But Zac Efron isn't a tenor. Ren is about as tenor as it gets. This should be interesting...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 4:37pm

I'm excited. Not about Zac, but I do like the stage version of Footloose so I'm excited for a movie version. I just hope they don't include the songs the adults sing as they would drag in a movie. They drag on stage. And I hope they include "Still Rockin'" in favor of "Lets Make Believe We're in Love" like in the UK tour.

[bethnor]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 4:38pm

^^^

it is widely known that his voice for HSM was "sweetened" by a tenor (i.e., someone else sang it when he couldn't). i don't doubt they can do the same thing for footloose.

[timesquare01]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 4:51pm

okay I'm going to try my absolute HARDEST not to judge this move before nay actual material on it comes out. But I am seriously worried. I love Footloose (say waht you wish), but I think it's a great show. But some things worry me.

Zac's voice - can he pull off the high a's and b's and riffs and power songs? can he really honestly do this? granted he won't be doing the show six times a week. all he has to do is get it sorta kinda right once in a studio and the magic of hollywood will make him sound great.

Zac's appearance - is he too pretty? i mean he's a (very) good looking guy but his he gonna hair-toss his way through the movie? and speaking of which maybe he should cut his precious locks short for the role? no, never.

Kenny's directing - please please PLEASE dont turn this into a fourth HSM. I'm not saying the guy can't direct, and I'm not saying that the movie can't be fun. I just hope it's not another smiley - happy - oh no a problem? - what'll we do- we'll dance! - movie


fgksjgdfsrg. i need time to gather my thoughts.

[DrTheatre]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 5:35pm

I love Kenny's direction in Hocus Pocus, so it might be a mixed of both..HP and HSM. Who knows!

But I also just read that Zac gets Script approval now...wow...sorry it is bad, we can blame Zac for approving the script or the other way around too!

[Ftworthguy]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 5:41pm

Has it been reported if this is a MOVIE version of the musical or just a REMAKE of the original movie?

[yankees1253]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 5:46pm

Great! Soon to be bombing at an empty theater near you! The sooner this automaton's career is over, the better.

i rather see jesse mccartney in the lead role. efron should not get lead roles especially in musicals and ortega was bad directing.

[James885]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 6:19pm

Zac gets script approval? Why?

[TheRyanOConnorShow]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 6:45pm

Most stars get script approval, I'm surprised they even reported it. It just gives him another out if it's a sinking ship. Smart really.

I think this movie will actually be quite good, for what it is. I, personally, always loved the stage version.

I'm excited to see what girls do this. I just think it'll be so fun!

And, it's sure to make a killing at the box office, which i good for the movie musical genre.

[sally1112]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 9:00pm

What is wrong with you people? This could be wonderful. I am hoping for the best here.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 11:24pm

I actually think the kids has reasonable talent and good looks. For the record, it was only the first movie that his voice was "sweetened". It was all him for Hairspray and the other 2 movies.

As far as Footloose turning into a "happy" musical....it pretty much already is. I have stress...let me dance. I am in love...let me dance. I won my fight with the Preacher Man...let me dance.

This has been talked about for quite a long time....even during the filming of Hairspray...but I was under the impression that it was a remake of the movie, which I thought was FAR superior to the stage musical.

I have to admit: Footloose (movie) is definiely a guilty pleasure for me.

[TheRyanOConnorShow]

Posted: 10/29/08 at 2:59am

I was under the impression that it is a MUSICAL version of the MOVIE but NOT a MOVIE version of the BROADWAY MUSICAL. Correct? Oy, the confusion!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/29/08 at 7:36am

This isn't a film version of the musical; this is a remake of the 1984 movie.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 10/29/08 at 7:48am

They are taking a really good movie with an excellent cast, recasting the lead with the most boring, white bread twink (cute but more gay porn material than serious actor). Sounds Puuurfectly horible.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 10/29/08 at 8:09am

I fricking love FOOTLOOSE and think Zac Efron is cute as heck.

He has charm and he can SANG!

I'm super duper excited for this!

[blondebaby589]

Posted: 10/29/08 at 8:17am

First of all CATSNYrevival, "Still Rockin" is a horrible song. It's a great way to start off the second act with a "What the heck was that?!" moment.
Second Wanna Be A Foster, yes Zac Efron can sing. He just can't sing high A's and B's as timesquare put so perfectly.
And last, I really do love Footloose so I don't want this to sink. I just really don't want Zac Efron to be in it.