It’s official: Chace Crawford will replace Zac Efron as star of new “Footloose” remake

Producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, who worked with Zac Efron on Hairspray, had wanted the High School Musical to headline their new feature film version of Footloose in the role that launched the young Kevin Bacon to stardom back in the early 80s.

Efron was set to star but pulled out of the project in April. When I chatted with Neil and Craig about it last month at the opening of the musical review Back to Bacharach and David in Hollywood, they offered a strong hint about Efron’s probable replacement. Craig said Craig said the new lead “will be someone you have heard of who will become an even bigger star after this.”

That someone is Chace Crawford, the handsome star of the CW hit Gossip Girl, Paramount Pictures announced today. The film will be directed by Kenny Ortega who also directed the High School Musical films.

Neil told me he has no ill-will toward Efron whose recent comedy, 17 Again opened at number one five weeks ago and is poised to cross the $60 million mark in domestic grosses.

“Zac spoke to us about it in advance and said he wanted to do some dramatic work next and we agreed with him and understood what he wanted to do next in his career.” Neil said. “Zach would have been phenomenal but we’ll have a wonderful replacement too who’s going to be phenomenal.”

This is a great break for Crawford but we’ll have to see if he can dance! We already know Zac can.