Us Magazine May 19, 2009
After weeks of contract negotiations, the 'Gossip Girl' star officially signs on to play the lead role in the musical remake. It's official! Chace Crawford will star in the "Footloose" remake, Paramount Pictures confirms to Usmagazine.com exclusively.
"Chace Crawford will play the lead role of Ren McCormack in the film 'Footloose'," Paramount told Us Tuesday.
The news is expected to be officially announced to trade publications Wednesday morning.
See photos of stars on set.
The actor has been considering the part for some time but had yet to officially sign until this week. He had been in contract negotiations and was struggling to make filming work around his "Gossip Girl" schedule, which is also due to start shooting its third season, a source told Us.
Crawford was offered the lead role of Ren -- portrayed in the 1984 original by Kevin Bacon -- after Zac Efron dropped out of the project in March.
Check out Chace's yearbook photo!
The "High School Musical" star said the film "sort of" wasn't a good fit.
"I want to grow a bit with the types of movies I want to make," he said in April. "It was more along the lines that I was looking for a new challenge, and this was another musical."
Find out what your favorite "Gossip Girl" stars looked like as kids.
"Footloose" will be produced and directed by "High School Musical" alum Kenny Ortega.
Other stars who have auditioned recently for the movie, which is set to begin shooting in March 2010, include Hayden Panettiere, Amanda Bynes and "Dancing With the Stars" pro dancer Julianne Hough.
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It was such a big hit, it needed to be remade.
