Kenny Ortega is facing several projects nowadays and his time has been taken by his next big hit, which we all know is the Michael Jackson tribute titled This is It. Unfortunately, he's going to face the end of the year with one production less in his résumé. The director of High School Musical is going the same path of his star actor Zac Efron and bailing on the remake of Footloose.
According to Variety, Ortega and Co. released a statement over the weekend, saying how they couldn't settle differences with Paramount Pictures for the anticipated revision of the hit 1984 musical film. They just couldn't agree on tone and budget, which is why both parties withdrew from the project.
The statement says: "Coming off the extraordinary project, Michael Jackson's `This is It,' director Kenny Ortega has decided it is premature for him to commit to his next film and will not be moving forward with `Footloose' as previously reported."
Insiders reveal that the disagreements between Ortega and Paramount began when the
High School Musical director revealed his plans for the production. He apparently wanted
"elaborately-staged musical numbers, at a budget of $30 million or so." Meanwhile, Paramount Production chief Adam Goodman preferred "an edgier drama with less emphasis on the musical numbers, and a budget around $25 million or less."
That dispute was a mere step away for Kenny Ortega to leave the production of
Footloose. Even so, the project will be continued as the studio searches for a new director and keeps its plan to start filming this March . They're only waiting for
Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford to take a break from his TV series, hoping to embark on this remake of the musical movie.
Though the Emmy Award-winning producer and choreographer has left the
Footloose project, the other stars of the movie are still signed on. Joining Chase Crawford is Julianne Hough, the country and Western singer known for her appearances on
Dancing with the Stars. Even without Ortega,
Footloose is still aiming for a 2010 release.
-Maria Gonzalez, BuddyTV Staff ColumnistSource:
Variety(Image Courtesy of WENN)