HitFix confirms Zac Efron has dropped out of the remake of "Footloose" for Paramount Pictures. Gregory Ellwood <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>HitFix can confirm that Zac Efron has dropped out of the big screen reboot of "Footloose."&nbsp; <br /><br />Efron, who star has been rising after becoming the standout in the "High School Musical" franchise and a supporting role in "Hairspray," was expected to play the role Kevin Bacon made iconic 25 years ago.&nbsp; While the original was mostly a dance flick, the new incarnation was expected to be a traditional musical.<br /><br />The Wrap <a href="http://www.thewrap.com/article/2028" target="_self">reported </a>today that Efron told Paramount he didn't want to make a musical at this point at his career, but <strong>HitFix previously learned the actor was also incredibly disappointed in the script the studio was trying to fast track into production.</strong>&nbsp; No doubt, considering the expectations and career possibilities surrounding his upcoming comedy <a href="../../../events/2009-1-2-17-again" target="_self">"17 Again,"</a> it was a combination of both that lead to his departure.<br /><br />What will become of "Footloose" is unclear.&nbsp; Efron's "High School Musical" director Kenny Ortega and his "Hairspray" producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan had been brought on to spearhead the picture.&nbsp; <br /><br />Efron recently broke from his studio career track to star in Richard Linkletter's "Me and Orson Welles."&nbsp; The period drama received mixed reviews at last year's Toronto Film Festival and is still without a release date.<br /><br />The actor is also rumored to be starring in "The Adventures of Johnny Quest" reboot for Warner Bros.&nbsp; <a href="../../../events/2009-1-2-17-again" target="_self">"17 Again"</a> hits theaters April 17.</p> movies 2009-03-23T19:38:35Z 450 HitFix reports: the screenplay was the biggest issue 2038-01-01T00:00:00Z false 586 false false false false false false false false false false 2009-3-23-zac-efron-drops-out-of-the-footloose-reboot 2009-03-23T15:36:00Z Zac Efron drops out of the 'Footloose' reboot published Eastern Time (US & Canada) http://tinyurl.com/co7zjm Zac Efron drops out of 'Footloose' 2009-09-01T03:42:16Z false 5 14