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Director Cuts Loose From Footloose Remake

by Brandi Fowler Sun., Oct. 25, 2009 6:00 PM PDT

Paramount Pictures

That Footloose remake is looking less and less like a High School Musical sequel.

First Zac Efron bailed. Now his HSM director, Kenny Ortega, who was set to helm the Footloose remake, is high-stepping away after having issues about the tone and budget of the dance flick, according to Variety.

The move comes just days before Ortega's next directing project, the behind-the-scenes Michael Jackson concert film This Is It, hits theaters.

"Coming off of 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," Paramount Pictures said in a statement to E! News. Neither the studio nor Ortega would comment on the reason behind his exit.

Production on the film is still set to commence in March, with Chace Crawford and Julianne Hough reprising the famed lead roles once played by Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer.

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