Kenny Ortega has exited his post as director of Paramount’s “Footloose†remake.
The director, whose latest film “Michael Jackson : This Is It†opens this week, apparently wasn’t happy with the direction and tone the film was taking.
“Footloose” is a remake of the 1984 drama about a newcomer (a star-making turn for Kevin Bacon) who moves to a town and rebels against its no-dance law. According to Variety, Ortega wanted to make a picture with elaborately-staged musical numbers, at a budget of $30 million or so. Paramount production chief Adam Goodman wanted an edgier drama with less emphasis on the musical numbers, and a budget around $25 million or less. Paramount has confirmed the budget dispute, but the studio said the budget will be less than $25 million.
Ortega had been working on the film since his “High School Musical” star Zac Efron was attached. The project will now star Chace Crawford (“Gossip Girlâ€) in the lead role.
Paramount is expected to start looking for a new director tomorrow.