Kenny Ortega is no longer on board to direct the Footloose remake, Variety reports. Ortega reportedly left the project over creative and budgetary issues with Paramount Pictures. Sources said that Ortega wanted to make a music-heavy $30 million project, while Paramount was pushing for an edgier drama coming in at $25 million. Variety says the studio will start looking for a new director on Monday, and hopes to still be on track for a March shoot, to coincide with star Chace Crawford’s break from shooting Gossip Girl. Ortega, who choreographed Dirty Dancing and directed the hit High School Musical films, directed the Michael Jackson concert film This Is It, which opens Wednesday.
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Comments (1-15) of 21 Add your comment
Someone needs to tell Kenny that it’s not the ’80s anymore with the big over the top productions so common that era. This era in 2009 likes a more toned down drana production of it without the excessive decadence clothes and the music heavy soundtrack. How Footloose will win today’s audiences is beyond me.
LOL. Ever heard of a movie with over-the-top productions and decandence called Moulin Rouge?
I do, however, wish they weren’t remaking this movie – the original is cheesy in a lot of ways, but it’s just fine.
Well High School Musical certainly worked for him, Preston. All three of them.
I saw this movie. Do not waste your time or money. It was boring for the first hour and you may get dizzy from watching the camera that they are using in the movie. It’s similar to the Blair Witch movie. Not worth seeing this movie believe me and I love horror movies. I would give this movie a D.
Wow, you certainly remember Footloose a lot differently than I do…
You saw the original or the new one? Because the new one hasn’t been made yet and the original is nothing like that.
What movie are you talking about? I assume you are refering to either Saw VI or Paranormal Activity neither of which are the movie mentioned here.
I hope Footloose is NOT remade,the original was wonderful and a cheap imitation remake is not going to go over well.
I think “Anonymous” thought he was commenting on a “Paranormal Activity” review?
No Zac Efron and no Kenny Ortega? Please just put this project out of its misery; it’s going to bomb anyway (just like the horrible remake of “Fame” did).
I say just offer it to Adam Shankman of Step Up and Hairspray if you want a musical done right.
Who said this was going to be a “musical”? I think a remake could be done right, as long as it does not try to be a mere modern version of an 80s movie.
IIRC, the new version of Footloose is suppose to be an adaptation of the stage production, not a remake of the original.
…Then it’s doomed.
Just let the whole thing die. We don’t need another Footloose. The one with Kevin Bacon is classic.
I can’t believe Paramount wouldn’t want a full-on musical, after the success of Chicago, Dreamgirls, Hairspray and especially MAMMA MIA! (that alone grossed 600 million worldwide)
Well, this is sort of disappointing. I would have thought that Paramount would want a big production since musicals have kind of been successes in the past, but whatever…
I really wish they would let this project die. It’s going to be a disaster and I won’t waste my time or money seeing it. The original movie was a social commentary relevant to its time. That message doesn’t fit into today’s dark, edgy, and downright mean cultural psyche.
I’m sure I would have been forced to see a ZacEfron/KennyOrtega version of Footloose, as my daughter is 10, and loves both of them. Thankfully, Chace Crawford is not on her radar (yet?). Loved the original, a remake would probably not compare. Fame certainly didn’t. What’s next? Flashdance?
It seems clear that the studio saw “Fame” flop HARD, and wants to downplay the music for less money.
Because when I think “Footloose”, I think “edgy drama”, don’t you?
I say that Kenny Ortega should do a movie on the 1980s.I like to see all new castmembers.On Brutnette young woman to play Original MTV VJ Martha Quinn.Young Handsome Black young man to play pop star Michael Jackson.That would be cool.Going Back to the Video days 1981 to 1989.I hope it happens soon.I like to see it.Also have funny parts in it.Also The Launching of MTV of that time.August 1st 1981.
But why hire Kenny Ortega if you want to film a smaller budget edgy drama? Not exactly his claim to fame.