With producers looking for a talented young actress who can sing as well as dance -- the movie won't be a musical per se, but it will call on Crawford's leading lady to show off her pipes -- we've narrowed down the field to five top contenders we feel could really cut loose (footloose) as Reverend Moore's beautiful, badass daughter. -- By Tom DiChiara
Julianne Hough: A Paramount rep has confirmed to EW.com that the 'Dancing With the Stars' beauty will screen-test for the role this week. In addition to her obvious dancing prowess, her recent success as a country music singer should help her cause. The only chink in Hough's armor: Her sole acting gig is as an uncredited Hogwarts schoolgirl in 2001's 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.'
Miley Cyrus: Hannah Montana's alter-ego has proved her singing and dancing skills time and again with her hit Disney Channel show and its two movie incarnations. And with 'Hannah Montana: The Movie' and 'Bolt' grossing $76M and $114M respectively, she has something precious few other 16-year-olds can boast: box office clout.
Hayden Panettiere: Like Crawford, the 'Heroes' starlet has already undergone a grueling screen test to show off her singing and dancing chops -- but has yet to lock down the part. Working in her favor is her extensive acting experience and the fact that she moonlights as a singer on a number of movie soundtracks, including 'Bridge to Terabithia' and 'The Ice Princess.'Footloose' Cast: Where Are They Now?
It was 25 years ago that the small-town, teen-angst film 'Footloose' hoofed it through an abandoned warehouse and made Kevin Bacon a superstar, grossed more than $80 mil at the U.S. box office and spawned a hit Broadway musical.
Not bad for a little movie that received mixed reviews when it came out, eh? With a remake currently in the works (officially star-less since Zac Efron dropped out), we wanted to find out what happened to all those folks from the tiny burg where dancing was outlawed.
Let's see where the cast has been this quarter-century (yeah, that's how they'd say it in 'Footloose' country). -- By Ryan McKee
Paramount
Kevin Bacon
Played: Ren McCormack
Then: After a bit part in 'Animal House' and catching critics' attention as the surly Timothy Fenwick in 'Diner,' Bacon hit the big time as Ren McCormack in 'Footloose.' The hardnosed Chicago teen (Bacon was actually 24 at the time) just wants to dance. Is that so wrong? You gotta give it to the boy ... just give the boy a chance.
Paramount / Everett Collection
Kevin Bacon
Played: Ren McCormack
Now: While his career has ebbed and flowed, the inspiration for the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game has averaged at least a film per year since 'Footloose.' He's been married to actress Kyra Sedgwick for 20-plus years; they have two children, Travis and Sosie. Most recently he played an aide to Tricky Dick in the acclaimed 'Frost/Nixon,' spoofed prank shows with the FunnyorDie.com video 'Bacon'd,' directed episodes of Sedgwick's hit cable series 'The Closer' ... and on the downside, lost an undisclosed amount in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme.
Duffy-Marie Arnoult, WireImage
Lori Singer
Played: Ariel Moore
Then: A Juilliard-trained musician, Singer appeared in the TV version of 'Fame' before reportedly beating out Madonna for the role of Ariel Moore. She may be the preacher's daughter, but this adrenaline junkie is no choirgirl. After she and her meathead boyfriend give Ren a hard time, she falls hard for his immoral hip shakes.
Everett Collection
Lori Singer
Played: Ariel Moore
Now: After roles in a string of '80s films and Robert Altman's 'Short Cuts,' Singer has focused on her music. In the short film 'Sarabande,' she plays alongside master cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Most recently she performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall in January 2008.
Jim Spellman, WireImage
John Lithgow
Played: Rev. Shaw Moore
Then: Reverend Moore -- the anti-dance, anti-rock, slaphappy holy roller -- made it his mission to raise the small town to heaven. The early '80s were hot times for the stage and screen veteran. In addition to his role in this box office smash, Lithgow was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1983 and 1984 for 'The World According to Garp' and 'Terms of Endearment,' respectively.
Paramount / Everett Collection
John Lithgow
Played: Rev. Shaw Moore
Now: He's continued to work on stage and screen with recent roles in 'Dreamgirls' and 'Confessions of a Shopaholic.' However, this TV generation probably knows him best as the excitable alien father in '3rd Rock From the Sun,' and he's connecting with a whole new generation as a children's book author. He recently popped in for a cameo on '30 Rock' and is rumored to be in the upcoming 'Smurfs' movie.
Bennett Raglin, WireImage
Dianne Wiest
Played: Vi Moore
Then: As Vi, the Reverend's devoted yet realistic wife, Wiest became the only parent in town speaking any sense. After the role, the gentle-voiced actress caught the attention of Woody Allen and became inducted to his crew of regulars. Her roles in 'Hannah and Her Sisters' and 'Bullets Over Broadway' both won her Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress.
Paramount/ Everett Collection
Dianne Wiest
Played: Vi Moore
Now: For 2007's 'Dan in Real Life,' she played the mother of Steve Carell and Dane Cook. Then she became Gabriel Byrne's therapist on the experimental HBO series 'In Treatment,' which garnered her a second Emmy. She also reteamed with John Lithgow for the controversial Broadway revival of 'All My Sons' with Patrick Wilson and Katie Holmes.
Donna Ward, Getty Images
Chris Penn
Played: Willard Hewitt
Then: The younger brother of Sean Penn, Chris appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's avant-garde drama 'Rumble Fish' and as the best friend of Tom Cruise in 'All the Right Moves' before landing the role of Ren's drawling best friend Willard Hewitt. Legend has it that in real life Penn had two left feet, which led to the scenes of him learning to dance being added to the film.
Paramount/ Everett Collection
Amanda Bynes: The 23-year-old 'What a Girl Wants' star proved she's a triple threat with 2007's 'Hairspray,' flaunting her acting, singing and dancing capabilities. She's reportedly already auditioned for the role of Ariel, but whether what a girl wants is what a girl gets remains to be seen.
Brittany Snow: Bynes' fellow 23-year-old 'Hairspray' alum can also sing, dance and act with the best of 'em. Snow showcased her voice on tracks for both 'Hairspray' and the TV show 'American Dreams' -- and displayed her rebellious side as an unapologetic prostitute in 2008's 'Finding Amanda.' Not that we're equating prostitution with teenage rebellion.
Reader Comments (8)
Sandee at 3:58PM on May 28th 2009
No one.....leave Footloose alone.
Tom at 8:31PM on May 28th 2009
if there going to remake it, then you have to use the best singer/dancer out
of the ones listed its Miley Cyrus ...not a huge fan of hers , but she can
out dance and sing them all and she can Act a bit..
wonder who came up with remaking this movie??
or is hollywood runing out of new ideas for movies?
jim at 12:37PM on May 29th 2009
I think Jaimie Alexander would be perfect....NO ONE ELSE!
brownie90066 at 7:27PM on Jun 9th 2009
Sorry. Miley Cyrus can barely sing and she canno act. I think the best dancer and singer on that list s Julianna Hough
Marin Matta at 2:22AM on May 29th 2009
Are they remaking or is there a new concept? I agree with Sandee.
vinvinny at 2:56PM on May 29th 2009
Again,i agree with sandee,stop making remakes that 99.99% of the time suck!,specially with the choices.
E raymond at 9:03AM on May 30th 2009
Can't believe they are remaking this lame old story. It stunk the first time around and was truly horrible on Broadway and now they're unleashing it again. Get some new ideas!
Sandy at 11:13AM on May 31st 2009
DEFINITELY JULLIANNE HOUGH
(ADOREABLE SINGER AND FABULOUS DANCER)