Thomas Dekker to take 'Footloose' lead?

Thomas Dekker has emerged as the frontrunner to take on the lead role in Paramount's Footloose revamp, says the Los Angeles Times.

Dekker, who appeared in Heroes and The Sarah Connor Chronicles, would replace Chace Crawford in the Craig Brewer-directed film. Crawford was forced to exit the project due to his TV commitments with Gossip Girl.

The new Footloose, a remake of Kevin Bacon's 1984 movie, centres on Ren McCormack as he arrives in a small town where dancing is outlawed.

Dekker last week told DS at the Cannes Film Festival that he was nearing a deal to star in an unnamed big budget movie.

"Right now I'm kind of closing this big, intimidating huge movie that I can't say what it is, but that will be a trip if we do that," he said, adding: "[It's] a big fun movie, it's not very dark."

Dekker's movie credits include A Nightmare On Elm Street and upcoming supernatural comedy Kaboom.

> Click here to watch our recent interview with Thomas Dekker