It is hard to believe it has been well over a decade since Hollywood decided to remake a classic. People were skeptical. Honestly, they had every right to be. When the 2011 remake of Footloose hit theaters, the shadows of Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer loomed large over the production. But the actors in new Footloose didn't just try to mimic the 1984 originals; they brought a specific, high-energy athleticism that turned a "why did they make this?" project into a surprisingly solid hit.
The casting process was a nightmare for Paramount. Originally, Zac Efron was attached to play Ren MacCormack. He backed out because he didn't want to be "the musical guy" forever. Then came Chace Crawford, who also eventually dropped out. Finally, the production landed on a professional dancer who had never really acted before. It was a massive gamble.
Kenny Wormald as Ren MacCormack
Kenny Wormald wasn't a household name. He was a dancer from Boston who had toured with Justin Timberlake. That is basically it. When he stepped into the role of Ren, he brought a literal Boston accent and a level of technical dancing that Kevin Bacon—bless his heart—couldn't actually touch. Bacon had a stunt double for the complex stuff; Wormald did it all.
The "Angry Dance" in the warehouse is the litmus test for any Ren MacCormack. In the 2011 version, director Craig Brewer leaned into Wormald's strengths. The choreography was more aggressive, more modern, and felt less like a music video and more like a physical breakdown. Since the movie, Kenny hasn't become an A-list movie star, but he’s stayed incredibly active in the industry. He appeared in the critically acclaimed Love & Mercy and continues to lead the dance world through his studio, Playground LA. He's a "dancer’s dancer," and that’s why the remake holds up for people who actually value choreography.
Julianne Hough as Ariel Moore
Julianne Hough was already a star on Dancing with the Stars when she got the part of Ariel. However, this was her first real test as a leading lady in a feature film. She had to play the rebellious preacher’s daughter, a role that requires a mix of vulnerability and "I'm going to jump between two moving trucks" insanity.
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Hough's portrayal of Ariel was arguably darker than Lori Singer's. There was a palpable sense of grief in the 2011 script—Ariel’s brother had died in the car accident that prompted the dancing ban. This gave Hough something real to chew on. After Footloose, her career exploded into a mix of judging, acting in films like Safe Haven, and becoming a fitness mogul. She’s perhaps the most successful of the young cast in terms of raw brand recognition.
Miles Teller: The Breakout Star
If you want to talk about the actors in new Footloose who actually went on to dominate Hollywood, you have to talk about Miles Teller. He played Willard, the lovable guy who can't dance.
At the time, Teller was a newcomer. He was charming, awkward, and stole every single scene he was in. It is hilarious to look back at him learning to dance to "Let's Hear It for the Boy" and realize that this same guy would eventually be flying fighter jets next to Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick. Teller’s career is the gold standard for how to use a supporting role in a remake to launch a legitimate "serious actor" trajectory. He didn't get stuck in the "teen movie" trap. He used that natural, slightly cocky charisma to pivot into Whiplash just a few years later.
The Weight of the Elders: Dennis Quaid and Andie MacDowell
You can't have Footloose without the adults who are making life miserable for the kids. Dennis Quaid took on the role of Reverend Shaw Moore, famously originated by John Lithgow. Quaid played it differently. He wasn't just a fire-and-brimstone villain; he was a grieving father.
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Andie MacDowell, playing Vi Moore, had the thankless task of being the quiet strength of the family. Her performance is subtle. There is a specific scene where she tells the Reverend, "You're not being their minister, you're being their judge," that honestly hits harder than anything in the original. These veteran actors provided the "acting" anchors that allowed the younger, less experienced leads to focus on the physicality of their roles.
Why the 2011 Cast Worked Despite the Odds
Remakes usually fail because they try to "update" things that don't need updating. But the actors in new Footloose succeeded because they honored the source material while being significantly better dancers.
- The Physicality: In the 80s, you could get away with "movie dancing." By 2011, with the rise of So You Think You Can Dance, the audience's standards had changed. Wormald and Hough met those standards.
- The Chemistry: Wormald and Teller actually felt like friends. Their chemistry on screen felt unscripted and loose, which balanced out the heavy-handed themes of the ban on dancing.
- The Music Integration: The actors had to sell the transition from the classic soundtrack to the new country-fried versions of the songs. Blake Shelton’s cover of the title track was divisive, but the cast leaned into the Southern setting so hard it eventually made sense.
Supporting Players You Might Have Forgotten
Ziah Colon played Rusty, Ariel's best friend. She brought a necessary groundedness to the group. Then there was Ser'Darius Blain as Woody, who would later find major success in the new Jumanji franchise. This cast was surprisingly deep with talent that would pop up in major franchises a decade later. It's like a time capsule of "who's next" in Hollywood.
The film was shot in Georgia, and you can feel that humid, small-town energy. It wasn't filmed on a backlot in Burbank. The actors were actually out in the heat, in the dirt, and it shows in their performances. They looked sweaty. They looked tired. It added a layer of realism to a story that is, let's be honest, a little bit ridiculous if you think about it too long. A law against dancing? In this economy?
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The Legacy of the Remake Cast
When people search for actors in new Footloose, they are often looking for what happened to Kenny Wormald. There is this weird phenomenon where people assume he disappeared. He didn't. He just chose the dance world over the "movie star" world. He has choreographed for some of the biggest names in music and remains a titan in the professional dance community.
Julianne Hough remains a staple of TV. Miles Teller is an Oscar nominee. The "new" Footloose did exactly what a remake should do: it gave a new generation of performers a platform to show they could handle the pressure of a legacy title while bringing something fresh to the table.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans of the Movie
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of these actors or the film itself, here is what you should do next:
- Watch the "Angry Dance" Side-by-Side: Go on YouTube and compare Kevin Bacon's warehouse scene with Kenny Wormald's. Look at the shift from gymnastics-style movement to urban/contemporary dance. It’s a masterclass in how choreography evolved over 30 years.
- Track Miles Teller’s Evolution: Watch Footloose and then immediately watch Whiplash. Seeing his range—from the goofy Willard to the intense Andrew Neiman—explains why he is one of the biggest actors of his generation.
- Check Out Playground LA: If you want to see what the "New Ren" is up to, follow Kenny Wormald’s dance studio. He regularly posts videos that show he’s still got the moves that got him the role in the first place.
- Revisit the Soundtrack: The 2011 soundtrack is a weirdly good bridge between pop and country. Give the Zac Brown Band’s "Where The River Goes" a listen; it captures the vibe of the remake better than the title track does.
The 2011 version of Footloose might never replace the original in the hearts of Gen X, but for everyone else, it stands as a high-water mark for how to do a remake right. It wasn't just a cash grab; it was a showcase for a group of actors who were genuinely hungry to prove themselves. They did.