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Chace Crawford: Open Mouth, Insert Footloose?

Wed., Apr. 15, 2009 4:47 PM PDT by Marc Malkin

The Kobal Collection / Getty Images, Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Is Chace Crawford one dance step closer to starring in the remake of Footloose?

My E! News pal Giuliana Rancic just told me that she's heard from one of her sources that the Gossip Girl guy is in negotiations with Paramount to take on Ren McCormack, the fancy-footed rebel originally played in the '80s flick by Kevin Bacon.

"They are trying to make it work and it's looking good," Rancic says.

Reps for Crawford and the studio did not immediately comment.

As I was the first to report, Crawford auditioned for the movie when Zac Efron pulled out. Efron has said he's done with the musical genre right now because he doesn't want to get stuck in a High School Musical rut.

When Efron ditched the project, the studio, along with director Kenny Ortega and über-producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, was quick to announce that the movie would go on without him.

Currently on hiatus from Gossip Girl, Crawford is shooting Twelve, director Joel Schumacher's new drama costarring Kiefer Sutherland, Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin, Ellen Barkin and 50 Cent.