Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford will headline the remake of Footloose, a development that has been rumored for weeks. The studio producing the film has finally locked up the actor, who turns 24 in July, for the lead role in the upcoming film.

The Gossip Girl hunk was said to be first in line for the role of Ren McCormack, famously played by Kevin Bacon in the original, ever since the producers' first choice, Zac Efron, dropped out of consideration after getting cold feet.

Now it's finally a done deal!

Chace Crawford is ready to get Footloose ... but with whom?

In the mix for the female lead alongside Chace are Heroes' Hayden Panettiere, Amanda Bynes and Dancing With the Stars' Julianne Hough, all of whom have auditioned for the part of Ariel Moore, played in 1984 by Lori Singer.

Footloose, to be directed by High School Musical's Kenny Ortega, is set to begin shooting in March 2010, around when Chace wraps Season 3 of Gossip Girl.

Congratulations to the Gossip Girl star on landing this new movie and branching out a bit from past roles. Click to enlarge more Chace Crawford pictures ...

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.