Zac Efron won’t cut ‘Footloose’ in remake

Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

Just days after Variety cited Zac Efron’s attachment to Paramount’s “Footloose” remake as proof the Disney protégé was growing up, Efron has dropped out of the film.

Paramount Pictures says the “High School Musical” heartthrob is no longer attached to the upcoming film. The studio did not give a reason in its Tuesday statement.

Sources close to the actor say that it’s part of an image revamp.

“Zac wants to be in the business a long time — doing more musicals isn’t good for him long-term,” says one source close to the “High School Musical” star.

Kevin Bacon, who originated the Ren McCormack role in 1984, didn’t seem overly enthused about the remake or Efron’s part in the film when the topic recently came up.

“Yeah, they’re making another (version),” Bacon recently told a fan who expressed love for the original. The fan followed up with the logical question: “Who’s playing you?” Seeming to struggle for Efron’s name, Bacon responded flatly, “That ... that Zac Efron’s in it.”

More audition mayhem at ‘Top Model’
The short models vying for a spot on “America’s Next Top Model” are long on audition drama.

After the crop of potential contestants (all of whom must be under 5-foot-7 this season) engaged in a stampede during the March 14 casting call in NYC, producers for the show imposed new rules meant to promote peace at future calls.

The outcome: mild success at the March 21 audition in Dallas. There were no riots, but the Dallas Morning News reports the “No lining up overnight, and no lining up prior to 6 a.m.” rule was promptly broken.

According to the paper, “so many girls showed up at 2 a.m. they had to open the gates early.” Also, there was no stampede, but there was this: “9:14 a.m.: A scream erupts from behind the curtain. Guy passing out breakfast sandwiches doesn’t know what happened.”

Fallon Tweets about booking drama
Except for an understandable case of opening-show nerves, Jimmy Fallon ranks as one of the most laid-back television personalities, and his Twitter feed proves it.

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Fallon revealed via Twitter that when it comes to booking guests, “Letterman show doesn't want anyone doing our show first so... but, we'll take them second! (or third).”

If you’re looking for bad blood between the late shows, keep it moving along, nothing to see here. Fallon quickly clarified, “oh, we don't care. we just need bands to wanna do ours next. it's tricky. but it's not Dave himself. booking politics. boring.”

Celebrity sightings
On March 19, legging designer and aspiring model Lindsay Lohan was spotted wishing celebrity makeup artist Napoleon Perdis a happy birthday at his Hollywood Boulevard concept store and makeup academy. ... In New York, Mickey Rourke was spotted wearing sunglasses through an entire workout at the Soho Equinox March 19. ... Meanwhile, Rachel Weisz and her son stopped by Sweetiepie for a grilled cheese sandwich. ... In Miami, witnesses report that Reggie Bush devoured several fresh coconuts at the Sierra Mist Ruby Splash launch event at the Fontainebleau Hotel on March 21. ... Further west in Austin, Drew Barrymore stopped by the Nintendo Lounge at South by Southwest.

More on Zac Efron

Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com. Follow Scoop on Twitter: @ courtneyatmsnbc.

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