Director Cuts Loose From Footloose Remake

Days away from the debut of This Is It, director Kenny Ortega is bailing out as director of the Footloose remake.

That Footloose remake is gonna need a new director. 

Kenny Ortega, the director of Michael Jackson's concert film This is It and formerly the Footloose helmer, reportedly had issues about the tone and budget of the dance flick and left the project, according to Variety.   

While Paramount Pictures declined to comment on Variety's report, the production company confirmed Ortega's departure to E! News, saying "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."

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.