Chace Crawford to get Footloose

Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford has confirmed he will be getting Footloose for a revamp of the 80s classic, according to reports.

After months of rumours, Crawford has finally secured the role that propelled Kevin Bacon to fame 25 years ago, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The 23-year-old will replace 17 Again star Zac Efron, who had been lined up to play the role before dropping out because he feared it would lead to him being typecast.

High School Musical's Kenny Ortega will direct Footloose, but production will not begin until March 2010.

After his breakthrough in the original film, Bacon went on to take lead roles in Tremors, The River Wild and Apollo 13 with Tom Hanks.

His recently appeared in Frost/Nixon, a retelling of the post-Watergate TV interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former president Richard Nixon, alongside Michael Sheen and Frank Langella.