Is Zac Efron stepping out of 'Footloose'?
Rumors are that Disney star Zac Efron is tired of singing and dancing for his supper. He has reportedly pulled out of Paramount's planned remake of "Footloose" to try to branch out into more dramatic and comedic roles.
According to TheWrap.com, Efron told the studio that he did not want to do another musical at this point in his career. A production team insider reveals he used a rewrite on the screenplay to get out of his contract.
The Dish Rag's e-mail for confirmation to Paramount has not yet been returned. More as it develops.
Efron earned superstar status by singing and dancing as Troy Bolton in the "High School Musical" series and sang and danced his heart out in "Hairspray."
At the recent Oscars, along with his "HSM" costar Vanessa Hudgens, he joined Hugh Jackson in a song-and-dance number.
But is he pretty much over it?
Will Zac Efron become the new David Cassidy, who wasn't able to carve out a serious career for himself after being a teen singing idol on "The Patridge Family" TV show?
Efron's new comedy, "17 Again," is due out in April. And his new drama, titled "Me and Orson Welles," directed by Richard Linklater, was due out in 2008 but hasn't yet been released and there's no release date on IMDb.com. Which could potentially be bad news for Zach's new "career direction."
While Disney plans "High School Musical 4," Efron is not expected to be a part of it.
Maybe he should just do a cameo? Just keep one foot in the game? What do you think?
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Photo: Zac inexplicably wears a wool hat the the premiere of "Watchmen." Credit: FilmMagic.
Efron was smart to bail on this. It was a bad idea from the beginning and how long have they been working on a script? Too long, it must have been beyond fixing. They were wasting his time.
But for what it's worth Me and Orson Welles was never set for a 2008 release. That's what you get for lazy reporting though, just copying the source.
Per Richard Linklater's comments @ SXSW it should be released in October 2009, in time for Christian McKay as Orson Welles to be considered for Oscar.
I agree that it is probably a smart move for Zac to drop out of this. I would have gone to see it. I'd probably go to anything that he was in. But I am looking forward to him playing some more mature parts. He's not a teen anymore, and he is hot and sexy as anything. I think that he will do well with his career.
NO...I think Zac should stay in musicals, especially Footloose...That's a classic and I think he would get a lot of respect from that movie...and why would he leave HSM 4??? He is the legend in that movie and he needs to follow through with it...Zac is still very young and he'll have a change to step into more serious roles when the time is right....he's a great performer and dancer and he shouldn't run away from that right now.
I am really disappointed. I thought Zac would be perfect for the role. I can't imagine anyone else in it. Now that he's not going to be in it, I'm not going to see it when it comes out as I was really looking forward to seeing him in it.
he needs to get rid of the kiddie roles and hold out for some grown up ones. he is a gorgeous kid with fabulous manly potential if they stop trying to soften him up.
only patrick swayze can pull off the gorgeous leading dancing man!
i think that zac efron is really hottttt!!!!!! in this picture and i am his biggest fannn