Posted by Adam

Thursday August 12, 2010

ZAC Efron has explained his decision to back out of the Footloose movie remake.

The actor was set to take on the lead role — originally played by Kevin Bacon — of rebellious teenager Ren McCormack in the remake, but soon pulled out.

“All the things I loved about Footloose I couldn’t find in the project, they just weren’t there — I couldn’t see myself doing it,” Efron said.

Zac said that calling then-director Kenny Ortega, whom he previously worked with in the High School Musical films, to tell him that he was going to pass on Footloose was “literally the hardest phone call I’ve ever made”.

Zac — who’s in a relationship with his former High School Musical costar Vanessa Hudgens — recently insisted it’s not in his “heart” to be a Hollywood playboy.

“I think a lot of guys would enjoy that. But I’m not really like that,” he said.

“Believe me, I rack my brain thinking ‘Why am I not out there playing the field?’ One of my buddies was like, ‘You have no idea what’s going on right now. You’re peaking on Ecstasy and you’re watching TV.’ But it’s not in my heart.”

Tags: zac efron