The Daily Dish: May 20

-- Crawford and Pattinson choose next roles. After the on-again, off-again casting debacle of the Footloose remake, it seems the troubled film has finally found its star in the shape of “Gossip Girl” cast member Chace Crawford. Rumours and speculation about the actor taking over the lead role (made famous by Kevin Bacon) began immediately after Zac Efron left the project in March but it took time for Crawford and Paramount to agree on a deal that worked with his current television shooting schedule. Directed by High School Musical helmer Kenny Ortega, the film is scheduled to start filming in March 2010. And if that weren’t enough hunky casting news for you, we’ve got more! Reluctant teen heartthrob Robert Pattinson has also signed on for his next starring role, this time as the lead in an adaptation of the short story "Bel Ami." The film is scheduled to begin shooting in Paris early next year.

-- Ghostbusters 3 is a go! Dan Aykroyd, Canuck star of the previous two supernatural comedies, has confirmed that all members of the original cast have signed on and the film is ready to start shooting as soon as this winter. Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver have all agree to be a part of the latest chapter in the franchise but the film is planned as a passing of the torch between the old generation of slime fighters and a potential new one. Aykroyd tells the Los Angeles Times that they plan to “revisit the old characters briefly and happily and have them there as family but let's pass it on to a new generation." The actor thinks the franchise has the potential to land firmly in girl-power territory and would love to see Eliza Dushku and Alyssa Milano stepping into the famous jumpsuits and power packs. He admits the project could "blow up at any moment" if scheduling becomes an issue but hopes everyone is in for the long haul. Who would you like to see cast as the next generation of Ghostbusters? I’m not sure I care one way or the other as long as Ray Parker Jr.’s catchy theme song gets featured prominently!

--McG says he and the Angels are through. Director McG, real name Joseph McGinty Nichol if you’re interested, has said he is completely done with the Charlie’s Angels franchise and instead wants to take the time to firmly establish himself as a top sci-fi film-maker. Drew Barrymore, star of the first two Angels flicks, recently confirmed that a third film is set to go after a six year break and although he helmed the first two, McG won’t be steering the production this time around. Speaking to Mania, he explained, “I'm trying to grow and work in genres that I'm most comfortable working in. I got started in Charlie's Angels, and I wish them every success with another sequel, but these are the films that I grew up feeling very passionate about. The Terminator. Blade Runner. The Kubrick pictures." It would seem his aspiration hinges on the success of his latest film, Terminator Salvation, but given the past popularity of that franchise, he looks to be well on his way to accomplishing his goal.