FootlooseRemake Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Director Kenny Ortega Bails on 'Footloose' Remake
Filed under: Music & Musicals », Romance », Paramount », Celebrities and Controversy », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels »
The biggest enemy of the Footloose remake isn't a music-hating preacher, but its own Creative Differences. After it finally recovered from the loss of Zac Efron by recruiting Chace Crawford and Julianne Hough, Variety reports that Footloose has now lost its captain. Director Kenny Oretega has left the project due to "differences over tone and budget." Reportedly, Ortega's vision included elaborate dance sequences and a budget of $30 million or more. But Paramount's Adam Goodwin had something different in mind. He saw Footloose with a little less dancing, a little less music, and a lot more edge. He was also hoping the budget would come in around $25 million. Who is right? I don't know. If you want something closer to the original, I'd say Goodwin is spot on. Kevin Bacon did his lithe dance moves in barns and car washes. It was on the cheap. It was also pretty edgy (relatively speaking) in its handling of teenage sexuality. Is any remake going to feature its heroine yelling "I'm not even a virgin!" in the middle of a church? Nah. They'll just dress her sexy.
Paramount is now on the hunt for a new director in order to kick off its Sunday shoes and begin filming by 2010. I was going to say "Maybe this'll be the end of this silly remake" but there's no way that'll happen. Instead, I vote that this Footloose be made with two simultaneous storylines. As they tell the story of the repressive Midwest, we'll also learn about the behind the scenes drama that mirrors the onstage action. Will Ortega's lush vision of music and dance win out? Or will the repressive Goodman crush his freedom of expression? It would be like The French Lieutenant's Woman for high schoolers.
Sometimes a Remake Isn't a Remake
Filed under: Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels », Fan Rant »
This just in! Hollywood is remaking a lot of movies! Everything is fair game!
It's easy to get really pissed off and frustrated about this trend -- in fact, it's right to do so. (There's a few exceptions -- Darren Aronofsky's Robocop is still a pretty exciting prospect.) But we need to save our rage for the eye-rolling remakes (The Karate/Kung Fu Kid, Footloose) and shrug off The NeverEnding Story for the simple fact that the latter is based on a book.
It's not a remake if it's based on a book. It's a new interpretation. That's something everyone forgot (even Gene Wilder) when Tim Burton decided to "remake" Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. People were furious and I can understand, as the Wilder version is beloved by a lot of people. But it strayed pretty far from the Roald Dahl original, which left a lot of leeway for a new version. (Frankly, the Burton one leaves just as much critical room for a third attempt.)
I may be dying for original ideas as much as anyone else, but I'm just fine with Hollywood going back to the bookshelves a second try -- even if it's for something as iconic as True Grit. (It definitely skirts the line though -- The African Queen was a book too, but I don't know that anyone should ever try it again.) To me, it just isn't a remake if you're returning to the original source material. No one blinks an eye when a new version of Pride and Prejudice or Hamlet gets the green light, even if you do consider one particular version rather definitive. Each adaptation of Charles Dickens offers something new, each actor and actress puts their own spin on a legendary character, each version inspires someone to discover the novel. You may love the new version, you may hate it, but each adds something to the cultural dialogue -- which is something no remake of Footloose or Romancing the Stone is ever going to do.
It's easy to get really pissed off and frustrated about this trend -- in fact, it's right to do so. (There's a few exceptions -- Darren Aronofsky's Robocop is still a pretty exciting prospect.) But we need to save our rage for the eye-rolling remakes (The Karate/Kung Fu Kid, Footloose) and shrug off The NeverEnding Story for the simple fact that the latter is based on a book.
It's not a remake if it's based on a book. It's a new interpretation. That's something everyone forgot (even Gene Wilder) when Tim Burton decided to "remake" Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. People were furious and I can understand, as the Wilder version is beloved by a lot of people. But it strayed pretty far from the Roald Dahl original, which left a lot of leeway for a new version. (Frankly, the Burton one leaves just as much critical room for a third attempt.)
I may be dying for original ideas as much as anyone else, but I'm just fine with Hollywood going back to the bookshelves a second try -- even if it's for something as iconic as True Grit. (It definitely skirts the line though -- The African Queen was a book too, but I don't know that anyone should ever try it again.) To me, it just isn't a remake if you're returning to the original source material. No one blinks an eye when a new version of Pride and Prejudice or Hamlet gets the green light, even if you do consider one particular version rather definitive. Each adaptation of Charles Dickens offers something new, each actor and actress puts their own spin on a legendary character, each version inspires someone to discover the novel. You may love the new version, you may hate it, but each adds something to the cultural dialogue -- which is something no remake of Footloose or Romancing the Stone is ever going to do.
Who Should Take Over Kevin Bacon's 'Footloose' Sunday Shoes?
Filed under: Music & Musicals », Casting », Remakes and Sequels »
I was less than pleased when word hit back in 2007 that Zac Efron was leading a musical adaptation of Footloose. It is said to be a whole new musical twist, free from the singing-heavy stage treatment. But now, nearly two years later, Entertainment Weekly reports that Mr. Disney is out. Paramount issued a statement explaining that Efron is no longer attached to the film, but they're still going full-steam ahead with Kenny Ortega, Neil Meron, and Craig Zaden's twist on the franchise. However, EW then explained that their sources think the remake could very well depend on whether they can find a similar "song-and-dance dude" to fill Efron's now-vacant Sunday shoes. Their sources also say that the young actor left the project to run from the woes of typecasting. It seems that he's set on adding versatility to his roster, and taking on Footloose right now certainly wouldn't help Efron make a name for himself outside High School Musical and Hairspray.
So that leaves the new Ren McCormack out there and ready for the taking -- a high-school aged kid who can sing and dance. Will it be another HSM alum? Maybe a Jonas brother? It's not too easy to find a bankable name that fits all the parameters, especially when the role was once given to the It boy of musicals. Perhaps they'll have to throw on "Let's Hear it For the Boy" and teach a new dude how to dance.
Do you think anyone else can handle the world of Bible-thumpers, singing, and dancing? Or are you just hoping this is one stop closer to neverending development hell?
Updates on 'Footloose' Remake and 'Electric Kool-Aid'
Filed under: Music & Musicals », Deals », Remakes and Sequels »
I usually don't heavily rant here on Cinematical, but one of the stories that fired me up was the news that Footloose was getting remade into a cinematic musical with Zac Efron. No, this isn't a remake of the live musical a la Producers, but rather a straight remake from the film. Now, Variety reports that the project is being fast-tracked and could start production this spring. First, however, Peter Sollet (the director of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist) is penning a rewrite of Jon Hartmere's script. Then we can watch our beloved '80s classic get Efronized. In the meantime, the songs are being cooked up -- ones that will combine new tunes with some of the old favorites. Yeah, I'm still not sold.In more drug-centric news: It looks like The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, which Gus Van Sant grabbed in June of last year, is still moving forward. The Hollywood Reporter posts that Fox Searchlight has picked up the project. However, they're not sharing any news about when the film will get made or released. Maybe never? Yes, I'm bitter about this project too, but that's just because I was not happy with how he handled Tom Robbins and Blake Nelson's work, so I really don't want Tom Wolfe added to the mix. What do you think? Can Van Sant handle the lives of Kesey and the Merry Pranksters?
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