Craig Brewer Confirmed to Direct Remake of FOOTLOOSE

Last October, we reported that director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) may be stepping in to replace High School Musical director Kenny Ortega.  Variety now confirms that Brewer will take the helm and use his rewritten script.  However, the film once again is looking for a lead after lead Chace Crawford dropped out due to a scheduling conflict with Gossip Girl.  Crawford stepped in to replace Zac Efron who was was originally set to star but dropped out in March 2009 due to his fear he may end up being typecast.  Brewer’s remake will focus more on the drama of the original film-which starred Kevin Bacon as city kid who moves to a conservative town that has banned dancing and rock music-rather than elaborate musical numbers.

Brewer also has the action-comedy Mother Trucker in the pipeline, but will make Footloose his next picture.  That’s a shame because Mother Trucker sounds so much better.  It’s about a man who escapes from prison, hijacks an 18-wheeler, and races across the South to see his dying mother.