Chace Crawford will star in Footloose remake, and the leading lady?

What’s long been rumored has now been confirmed. Gossip Girl hunk Chace Crawford will be putting on his dancing shoes in the remake of Footloose, stepping into the void left behind when Zac Efron dropped out. Zac pulled out of Paramount’s planned remake of “Footloose,” reportedly because he feared being typecast as a cute song-and-dance man. As it turns out many young stars, see the new “Footloose,” a remake of the 1984 Kevin Bacon classic, as a huge opportunity. By the way Zac likely got the opportunity because the film will be directed by Kenny Ortega, who helmed all three “High School Musicals.”

Crawford, 23, will play Ren McCormack, the rebellious dancing high schooler who launched the career of a then 25-year-old Kevin Bacon, Paramount Pictures has announced. And as for the female lead the mix currently includes Hayden Panettiere, Amanda Bynes and Dancing With the Stars pro Julianne Hough, all of whom have auditioned in recent weeks for the part of Ariel Moore, the independent daughter of a preacher man, originated in the 1984 classic by Lori Singer. Miley Cyrus has surfaced as the latest hot young thing being considered for the leading-lady role, eonline reports. Supposedly Paramount is very interested in Miley’s talent and fan base, and isn’t asking her to audition,presumably because her singing, dancing and audience-pulling prowess have already been proven. Miley may not be able to take the role though due to her busy schedule with her day job as Hannah Montana, and a forthcoming starring role in the adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ as yet unreleased book The Last Song scheduled to begin June 15. Footloose begins shooting in March 2010, Paramount says (making the previously announced release date of June 18, 2010, unlikely).