I just wrote a post for CDinsight.com about US Magazine breaking the news on their decision to cast Chace Crawford in the Ren McCormack role originally played by Kevin Bacon.

Upon looking through all of the news I’m getting a sinking feeling that the Footloose remake will be an actual “Musical.” Maybe I have a bad memory, but I don’t remember Footloose as a musical–they just danced alot.

 Sure, there was a memorable soundtrack, but it was Kenny Loggins singing not Kevin Bacon.

The reason I’m suspicious is the director they chose for the project is Kenny Ortega, yeah, the guy who directed High School Musical. And we wonder why Zac Efron was originally up for the role.

More evidence is garnered by Zac’s reason for dropping out of the remake. He says he didn’t want to do another musical.

I’m not saying Footloose will make a bad musical, but the original eighties version was about dancing as a form of protest against traditional values. I think a “musical” version where everyone inexplicably breaks out into song is not really in keeping with the original mood of the eighties version.

But what the hell. They’re butchering all kinds of movies now. At least the reboots are working out pretty well because they’re simply using the original movies as inspiration and then starting their own storylines. Let’s face it Star Trek was incredible. Maybe they should make a musical out of that one?

On a sidenote, I’m not sure the rebellion against the preacher’s traditional values will be quite tame. Footloose was very innocent to begin with on that note, but I also say that because Kenny Loggins is very much a Contemporary Christian artist these days. He’s not going to lend his name to a movie that makes the Lord look bad.

CCM has nothing against dancing so I’m surprised that Fox Faith Films didn’t snatch up the rights. They could have easily Christianized the entire story.

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