Actor Chace Crawford is training in New York for movie remake Footloose, while simultaneously recording the latest episodes of hit series Gossip Girl.

"He's doing dance training and physical training," Footloose director Kenny Ortega told the BBC.

"We have a great teacher working with him there - he wanted it, he loves it."

The 24-year-old star will play Ren McCormack, the lead role made famous by Kevin Bacon in the 1984 film about a small town where dancing is banned.

High School Musical star Zac Efron had originally been lined up for the lead role, but dropped out in March 2009.

Efron apparently pulled out because he felt the film was too similar to the High School Musical series.

Ortega, who directed all the High School Musical movies, said Crawford had been in preparation for the role for months - even though shooting doesn't begin until next March.

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Initially, hearing Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson talk about "Gossip Girl" heartthrob Chace Crawford might seem unusual, but it makes a lot more sense when you remember that the duo are working together on the new movie "Twelve."

Fif did his research on Crawford, checking out a few episodes of his teen drama. "I got a chance to see it," he told MTV News.

"Twelve" - which director Joel Schumacher is shooting now in New York - also stars Kiefer Sutherland, Emma Roberts and Ellen Barkin. The film is based on Nick McDonell's debut novel of the same name. McDonell, who wrote the book in 2002, was only 17 when it was published.

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Hayden is said understood to have recently auditioned for the movie's producers, who want to create a "full-blown" musical out of the original.

"They were really impressed," a source told E! Online. "No one realised what a good singer she is."

Although neither actor has been confirmed for the project, Chace's participation in the movie is said to be a done deal.

The movie would be the Gossip Girl star's biggest role to date.

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Just a week after Zac Efron dropped out of the "Footloose" remake, we've gotten word that another pretty face has been linked to the project. According to reports, "Gossip Girl" star Chace Crawford has auditioned for the role.

"He did really well," a source told E! News. Crawford's name originally came up after gossip blogs and Web sites began suggesting him as a replacement for Efron.

After Efron dropped out of the film to pursue other types of roles, Paramount released a statement saying they remain committed to the Kenny Ortega-helmed film. Ortega also did the "High School Musical" movies with Efron.

" 'Footloose' is a project we've longed to see rebooted for a new generation. While Zac is no longer attached, we remain excited and committed to the collective brain trust of [director] Kenny Ortega, [producers] Neil Meron and Craig Zaden, who will reinvigorate the franchise," a Paramount Pictures rep told UsMagazine.com. "Their fresh take on the film will undoubtedly be filled with the same kind of breakout performances that we've come to expect from them."

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