Kevin Bacon has officially dismissed the possibility of a “Footloose” revival, despite the ongoing enthusiasm for the iconic 1984 film. The actor, who played the rebellious teenager Ren McCormack, recently made headlines with his announcement on the “Today” show that he will return to Payson High School in Utah, where the movie was filmed, to attend the school’s final prom. This visit comes after a successful social media campaign by the students, who used the hashtag #BaconToPayson to capture Bacon’s attention.
The students at Payson High School went all out to get Bacon to visit, recreating scenes from “Footloose” on TikTok, learning the famous dance moves, and organizing flash mobs. Their efforts paid off when Bacon acknowledged their hard work and announced his intention to attend the prom. “I have been so impressed with everything that’s been going on there with this crazy idea to get me to come back,” Bacon said in a video message to the students. “I’ve been amazed at the work that all of you have been putting into this, with the musical and the flash mobs and the re-creations.”
Bacon’s visit is particularly significant as it coincides with the 40th anniversary of “Footloose.” The film, which was shot in the summer of 1983, turned Bacon into a movie star and teen sensation. It tells the story of a Chicago teenager who moves to a small town and challenges the local minister’s ban on dancing. The movie’s success was a double-edged sword for Bacon, who revealed on the “Podcrushed” podcast last year that he initially struggled with the fame it brought him. “When I did the dance movie, I was not a dancer. I wasn’t trained as a dancer,” Bacon said. “If I’m being honest, I didn’t even really understand that it was a dance movie. I thought it was just a movie, and then, where they would indicate that there was dancing, I would just get up.”
Bacon admitted that becoming a pop star was not part of his original aspirations. “When I became a pop star, the last thing I wanted to be was a pop star,” he continued. “I had already moved into, ‘I want to be Dustin Hoffman or Meryl or John Cazale or De Niro. I want to work with Scorsese. I want to do Chekhov.’ You know what I mean? I was so into what my idea of a serious actor was, and all of a sudden I was given this thing that was completely not a serious actor. So I rejected it, full on. I tried to self-sabotage that piece of myself and my popularity.”
Over the years, Bacon has learned to embrace “Footloose” and its legacy. He rarely misses an opportunity to pay tribute to one of his most enduring roles. For instance, when the SAG-AFTRA strike ended last fall, Bacon posted a viral video of himself recreating the “Footloose” dance in celebration of the actors’ victory.
Despite his willingness to celebrate the film’s legacy, Bacon has made it clear that a “Footloose” revival is not on the cards. The actor’s return to Payson High School is a one-time event to honor the film’s 40th anniversary and the school’s relocation to a new building after the academic year. This visit will be the last chance for Bacon to attend prom day at the school where “Footloose” was shot.
Bacon’s decision to dismiss the possibility of a “Footloose” revival is understandable, given his initial reluctance to embrace the fame the film brought him. However, his willingness to return to Payson High School and celebrate the movie’s legacy shows that he has come to appreciate the impact “Footloose” has had on his career and its enduring popularity.
In his video message to the students, Bacon also praised their efforts to give back to the community through SixDegrees.org, a foundation he is involved with. “It hasn’t gone unnoticed by me, not to mention the fact that you tied in SixDegrees.org, our foundation, and are trying to figure out ways to give back to your community,” he said. “It’s really inspirational, so thank you. Thank you. And I’m gonna come. I gotta come!”
Bacon’s visit to Payson High School will undoubtedly be a memorable event for the students and a fitting tribute to the film that made him a household name. While fans may be disappointed that a “Footloose” revival is not in the works, they can take comfort in knowing that Bacon continues to honor the movie’s legacy in meaningful ways.
Source: Variety, CNN Entertainment
