HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Paramount Pictures has discovered a new face to step into Kevin Bacon’s shoes for its forthcoming Footloose remake.
Newcomer Kenny Wormald will take on the role Bacon made famous in 1984, starring as Ren McCormack, a city boy who comes to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned. He will star opposite the previously announced Julianne Hough, a two-time Dancing With the Stars champion.
Dennis Quaid has also joined the cast in the role of Reverend Moore, along with Miles Teller as Willard.
Writer/director Craig Brewer will helm the project that he rewrote after Zac Efron and director Kenny Ortega dropped out of the remake last year.
"I saw Footloose in my hometown theater when I was 13-years-old and it rocked my world," said Brewer. "I can promise Footloose fans that I will be true to the spirit of the original film. But I still gotta put my own Southern grit into it and kick it into 2011. It’s going to be a blast!"
Wormald, a Boston native, appeared in the MTV series Dancelife and recently toured with Justin Timberlake.
"When we discovered Kevin Bacon in 1984, we were both excited and gratified – and also knew the chances of ever duplicating that effort was a million to one shot. Decades later Kenny Wormald proved history could repeat itself," said Craig Zadan, who produced the original and is back for the remake. "We’ve wanted to work with Brewer ever since we saw Hustle & Flow. His fresh and contemporary vision will bring Footloose to a whole new generation of moviegoers.
Production on the remake, which is due to hit theaters on April 1, 2011, is set to begin in August.
