Marc Malkin is reporting that Hayden Panettiere has auditioned for Kenny Ortega’s updated remake of “Footloose.”

Panettiere, my source says, recently sang for filmmakers (the new “Footloose” is being turned into a full-blown musical à la the Broadway version). “They were really impressed,” the insider gushes. “No one realized what a good singer she is.”

Malkin also has Chace Crawford set to play Ren McCormack (originally played by Kevin Bacon) and that the next steps for Panettiere would be a dance audition followed by a read with the ‘Gossip Girl‘ beau.