Fifteen years after its release, Footloose (2011) returns as a time capsule of a remake that refused to be a straight copy. Craig Brewer’s film took the story from Utah to Georgia, swapped its leading man multiple times, and rebuilt the soundtrack with country grit. Here are eight things you probably didn’t know.
The director’s chair was a revolving door
Kenny Ortega was announced as director in October 2008, but left the project a year later after differences with Paramount and the production budget. Peter Sollett was hired to write the script, and producers included Craig Zadan, who had produced the original Footloose. In 2010, Craig Brewer came on to re-write the script and serve as director, with original writer Dean Pitchford co-writing the screenplay.
Zac Efron was cast first
In July 2007, Zac Efron was cast as Ren McCormack, but he left the project in March 2009. Two months later, Chace Crawford was reported to replace him, then backed out over scheduling conflicts. Thomas Dekker was a top candidate before Entertainment Weekly reported on June 22, 2010 that Kenny Wormald had secured the lead role.
Hough beat a teen-star shortlist
Former Dancing with the Stars ballroom-dance professional Julianne Hough was cast as Ariel. Amanda Bynes, Miley Cyrus and Hayden Panettiere were considered for the part before Hough. Dennis Quaid was cast as Reverend Shaw Moore, and Miles Teller was cast as Willard Hewitt. Andie MacDowell joined the cast on August 24, 2010 as Quaid’s wife.
Kevin Bacon declined his cameo
On The Howard Stern Show, Kevin Bacon said he declined a cameo in the film because he did not like the role he was offered: Ren McCormack’s deadbeat father. Though Bacon passed on the role, he gave Brewer his blessing.
Bomont moved from Utah to Georgia
While the original film has the fictional town of Bomont located in Utah, the remake instead places the town in Georgia. On a budget of $24 million, principal photography began in September 2010 in and around metro Atlanta, and wrapped two months later in November.
Real Georgia sites doubled as Bomont
A courtroom scene was shot at the Newton County Historic Courthouse in Covington, Georgia on September 17, 20 and 21. A family scene was filmed at the New Senoia Raceway in Senoia on October 1. The chicken scene was filmed on the Chattahoochee River bridge on Franklin Parkway in downtown Franklin, while the home and church scenes were filmed in downtown Acworth using the Acworth Presbyterian Church sanctuary and the house of Mayor Tommy Allegood.
The soundtrack was a cover party
The original soundtrack was released by Atlantic Records and Warner Music Nashville on September 27, 2011 with eight new songs and four remakes of songs from the original film’s soundtrack. Blake Shelton covered Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose” as an upbeat country version, while the film opens with teens dancing to Loggins’ original.
“I can promise Footloose fans that I will be true to the spirit of the original film. But I still gotta put my own Southern grit into it and kick it into 2011.”
Like the original, it also features “Bang Your Head (Metal Health)” by Quiet Riot and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” by Deniece Williams.
Opening weekend went to Real Steel
Pre-release audience polls predicted a $20 million opening, but Paramount expected closer to $15 million. Footloose opened in 3,549 theaters with $15.5 million, placing number two behind Real Steel ($16.2 million). Exit polls indicated 75 percent female audience. The film grossed $62 million worldwide; the 1984 Footloose grossed over $80 million worldwide.
Which Footloose fact surprised you most? Tell us your favourite—and whether you still have the HSN red boots.
Facts from Wikipedia: Footloose (2011 film), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Film images from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
