Dekker would be taking on the role of Ren McCormack, a part first pioneered by Kevin Bacon as the dance-happy outsider who shakes up a conservative small town. Zac Efron had previously been attached but dropped out when he decided to go in a less musical direction in his career.Craig Brewer (HUSTLE & FLOW, BLACK SNAKE MOAN) will direct, having replaced Kenny Ortega. Directorial shuffles are nothing new to the FOOTLOOSE universe. Back in the '80s, Michael Cimino (THE DEER HUNTER, HEAVEN'S GATE) was supposed to direct he original film, but was replaced when he went all Cimino on the studio. That project was ultimately helmed by Herbert Ross . Trying to envisage a Michael Cimino-directed FOOTLOOSE pushes me (even closer) to the brink of madness.