Zac Efron to Headline New Movie Musical 'Footloose'

Variety reports that Zac Efron, who played Troy Bolton in "High School Musical" and now appears as heartthrob Link Larkin in the film version of Hairspray, will star in a remake of the 1984 hit Footloose.

Produced by Dylan Sellars, the film will reunite Efron with "High School Musical" director/choreographer Kenny Ortega, who will have the same duties for Footloose.  Efron will play Kevin Bacon's role of Ren McCormack, "the rebellious newcomer in a town where dancing has been banned."  The new film Footloose will be expanded into a "full-blown movie musical" from the earlier film with songs.  Footloose also starred Lori Singer and John Lithgow.  It was originally written by Dean Pitchford and directed by Herbert Ross.  A Broadway musical version of Footloose was previously staged in 1998.

Efron's other credits include "The Replacements," "Heist," "Summerland" and the upcoming "High School Musical 2" and "High School Musical 3." 

The Hairspray film, co-starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah and more, is released in theaters nationwide on July 20th.  Visit www.hairspraymovie.com for more information.

Photo - Zac Efron and Nikki Blonsky in Hairspray; photo by David James/New Line Cinema