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Crawford, 23, will play Ren McCormack, the rebellious dancing high schooler who launched the career of a then 25-year-old Kevin Bacon, Paramount Pictures has announced.
In a recent PEOPLE poll, readers were into the idea, but Crawford still trailed front-runner Derek Hough as a replacement for Efron (followed by David Cook and Bow Wow).
High School Musical star Efron told EW.com he passed on the role because he didn't want to be type-cast as the musical guy and was searching instead for "the unknown."
Footloose, to be directed by High School Musical's Kenny Ortega, is set to begin shooting in March 2010.
JOSH & FERGIE: ROCKED BY SCANDAL
Did he cheat with a stripper?
Married less than a year, the couple denies an Atlanta woman’s claims that she and Josh had a fling
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