MUMBAI: Paramount Pictures’ Footloose will star Chace Crawford in the lead role. The movie will be produced and directed by Kenny Ortega.

Over the course of his 30-year career, Emmy Award-winning director and choreographer Ortega has worked with Madonna, Michael Jackson, Kiss, Cher, and Diana Ross. He choreographed the classic Dirty Dancing and, most recently, directed all three High School Musical films.

Footloose will be produced by the team of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Together, Zadan and Meron produced Hairspray and Chicago. The film will also be produced by Dylan Sellers. Academy Award-nominated Susannah Grant wrote the recently green-lit screenplay.

Crawford is best known to audiences worldwide for his role on the hit series Gossip Girl. He is currently starring in Joel Schumacher’s drama Twelve along with Emma Roberts and 50 Cent.

Production on the movie is set to begin shooting in March 2010.