Director/Choreographer Kenny Ortega Departs Feature Film Remake of Footloose

Kenny Ortega, director/choreographer of the blockbuster High School Musical series and forthcoming Michael Jackson concert film This Is It, has bowed out from the forthcoming feature film remake of Footloose, according to Variety. Ortega was reportedly unhappy with Paramount Pictures’ demands regarding the movie’s tone and budget. Starring Chace Crawford as Ren and Dancing with the Stars champ-turned-country singer Julianne Hough as his love interest, Footloose is aiming for a March 2010 start date to coincide with Crawford’s hiatus from Gossip Girl.

Footloose is a remake of the 1984 hit drama about a teen (originally played by Kevin Bacon) who moves from the city to a small midwestern town so conservative that dancing is outlawed by the local preacher. Variety reports that Ortega wanted to include elaborately staged musical numbers at a budget of $30 million, while Paramount wanted an edgier drama with less emphasis on the musical numbers and a budget of $25 million or less.

A statement attributed to Ortega said, "Coming off the extraordinary project Michael Jackson's This Is It, director Kenny Ortega has decided it is premature for him to commit to his next film and will not be moving forward with Footloose as previously reported."