Director Kenny Ortega thought his upcoming success, the Michael Jackson Concert rehearsal movie, THIS IS IT, will give him the respect he’s looking for but the opposite is what’s happening, concerning another project which has had his name attached for a while. Variety says Ortega has exited FOOTLOOSE the remake due to creative differences. Usually the report would end there leaving the rest of us wondering what happened but in this case, it’s clear to see whose fault it is…
Make no mistake, I am not one to anticipate a new take on FOOTLOOSE, but this is why I’m siding with Ortega on this matter
Ortega wanted the new FOOTLOOSE to be a highly elaborate staged musical with a budget of $30 million or so. But Paramount wanted an edgier drama with less emphasis on the musical and with a budget of only $25 million or less.
On one hand, yes it seems a bit extreme that Ortega demanded much considering his previous gigs were all three High School Musical movies. I’m sure it’d be a different story if he was Rob Marshall or Bill Condon. On the other hand, what did Paramount expect?! They hired a director who has a musical vision and yet they wanted him to do anything but, that just doesn’t make sense.
Paramount is looking for a director and time is of the essence because production is still set to start in March 2010. They’ve got 2 lead stars, Chace Crawford (TV’s Gossip Girl) who got the role after Zac Efron turned it down and the female lead went to hottie Julianne Hough,.. mmm… she can make me dance anytime.
Sorry,.. where was I? Ah yes, this is the new take on the movie about a city boy comes to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned. Glad I didn’t grow up in that kind of town.
There’s no reason for Ortega to be worried, THIS IS IT is number 25 in the list of top advance ticket sellers of all time and Columbia Pictures is planning to expand the movie from a two-week run, by popular demand, when it becomes a blockbuster. Notice I say ‘when’ not ‘if’
Here’s the synopsis of the original FOOTLOOSE..
“Classic tale of teen rebellion and repression features a delightful combination of dance choreography and realistic and touching performances. When teenager Ren (Kevin Bacon) and his family move from big-city Chicago to a small town in the West, he’s in for a real case of culture shock. Though he tries hard to fit in, the streetwise Ren can’t quite believe he’s living in a place where rock music and dancing are illegal. There is one small pleasure, however: Ariel (Lori Singer), a troubled but lovely blonde with a jealous boyfriend. and a Bible-thumping minister, who is responsible for keeping the town dance-free. Ren and his classmates want to do away with this ordinance, especially since the senior prom is around the corner, but only Ren has the courage to initiate a battle to abolish the outmoded ban and revitalize the spirit of the repressed townspeople.”
