In a recent episode of his podcast, Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon, the celebrated actor addressed the possibility of a Footloose sequel. As the iconic dance drama approaches its 40th anniversary, fans have been curious about the potential for a follow-up movie. However, Bacon seemed to dismiss the idea, jokingly stating, 'Never say never, but I think it would be a disaster.'
Bacon's initial response to a fan question about a sequel was that 'Footloose 2 has been done,' referring to the 2011 remake of the film. The remake starred Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, and Miles Teller. Although Bacon acknowledged the existence of a sequel, he seemed skeptical about the prospect of another one.
The podcast's Executive Director, Stacy Huston, suggested an alternative sequel idea, suggesting that a potential follow-up could involve Bacon's character, Ren McCormack, as an older adult dealing with raising his own family and the challenges they face in a world that still grapples with the influence of dancing. However, even with this alternative concept, Bacon maintained his doubts, jokingly dismissing it as a disaster waiting to happen.
Footloose, for those unfamiliar, tells the story of Ren McCormack, a teenager who moves to a small town from Chicago with his mother. Ren falls in love with Ariel Moore, the rebellious daughter of Reverend Shaw Moore, who has imposed a ban on dancing in the town due to a tragic accident. Eventually, Ren and his friends rally together to challenge the ban and bring dancing back into their lives.
The original Footloose movie became a sensation and played a significant role in launching Bacon's career. Additionally, the film's theme song, 'Footloose' by Kenny Loggins, became an enduring earworm that has stood the test of time for the past four decades.
Interestingly, Bacon revealed in a previous interview that the movie's ending was almost entirely different from what audiences ultimately saw. Originally, the climactic dance scene was supposed to be in slow motion, with glitter falling from the sky. However, after audience testing, it became clear that viewers wanted an upbeat, energetic finale that made them want to get up and dance along.
While a sequel might not be in the cards for Footloose, fans can still appreciate Bacon's incredible dance moves. In a video shared on his Instagram in mid-2022, Bacon and his wife, Kyra Sedgwick, attempted the viral 'Footloose Drop' TikTok trend. Set to the film's title track, the video showed the couple performing the move effortlessly and even high-fiving afterward. However, Sedgwick seemed to have taken it a bit too far, as Bacon later shared a photo of her icing her wrist, presumably due to the dance moves.
Although fans may hold out hope for a Footloose sequel, it seems Kevin Bacon remains unconvinced about its potential success. Nonetheless, the enduring popularity of the original film and its iconic soundtrack will continue to captivate audiences for years to come.
