In a move that made the Associated Press newswire, it was announced earlier this week that Zac Efron would no longer be in the Footloose remake.
The Wrap.com has the juiciest details from a protected senior member of the production team:
The team member told TheWrap that Efron had script approval on the movie and used a rewrite on the screenplay as the loophole to get out of his contract: “People had been working on this project since last July — we were all shocked.”
The other word is that Efron’s tired of the “cute song and dance man” persona that he and his management team have created for himself by being cast in the first three High School Musical movies and the 2007 movie adaptation of the Broadway play Hairspray (which itself was based on the original 1988 movie from John Waters.) So if he wasn’t going to be in that movie—which was being fast-tracked thanks to the HSM3 box office success—what is Efron going to be doing next?
Just last night, Variety reported that Efron is “in talks” to work with soon-to-be released 17 Again director Burr Steers on the film adaptation of a novel called The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud.
In the novel, St. Cloud is a young man whose even younger brother died in an accident, but with whom he still plays catch every evening after he finishes his work in the graveyard where his brother is buried. There are some weird twists and turns in the novel which you can read in the Publisher’s Weekly review on the above link, and if a strong female lead were cast against Efron, this would be a pretty amazing movie.
This is truly excellent for Efron, but I can’t help but feel bad for everyone on the Footloose production team. Here’s hoping they find a better male lead soon.
Mike Rouse-Deane says:
Is it sad I have a huge crush on Zach Efron??? Actually don’t answer that!
Trisha Lynn says:
@Mike: Saying you have an appreciation for another man is not a terrible thing, as the recent movie I Love You, Man purports. Man-crushes are the new hero worship.
Chris says:
There`s a small typo in the article… John Waters’ Hairspray came out in 1988, not 1998. But that doesn’t really change anything, now, does it?
Trisha Lynn says:
@Chris: Thanks, fixed.
Mike Rouse-Deane says:
Tis no man crush, tis love 🙂