No surprise: Chace Crawford steps in to 'Footloose'

Chace Crawford is finally coming to the big screen.

Credit: AP Photo/Evan Agostini

One of the biggest unkept secrets in town became reality today as Chace Crawford signed on to star in Paramount Pictures musical remake of "Footloose."

The "Gossip Girl" star is stepping in for Zac Efron who dropped out of the project because he had concerns about starring in yet another musical and disastifaction with the script.  In fact, based on early word, fans should hope there are major revisions to the screenplay before filming begins.

" Footloose" will be directed by Kenny Ortega, who helmed all three "High School Musical" films and is best known for choreographing "Dirty Dancing."  The original 1984 film turned Kevin Bacon into a household name and sold millions of soundtracks, but was not a traditional musical like this incarnation will be.

Variety reports the delay in formalizing Crawford's involvement was working around his contractual commitment to "Gossip Girl".  Production on "Footloose" will begin next March at the end of "Gossip's" shooting schedule.  Eventually a compromise was worked out, but whether that will affect Crawford's inclusion in some of the later episodes of "Gossip" next season is unclear. 

Crawford is currently shooting Joel Schumacher's drama "Twelve."  Clearly, action pictures are not in the tabloid friendly star's career path.