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- Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron Returned to East High – Could “HSM4” Be Happening?
Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron Returned to East High – Could “HSM4” Be Happening?
Everett Collection / Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection
“High School Musical” has been one of the biggest franchises to come out of Disney Channel. The original film premiered on the network in 2006, while its sequel, “High School Musical 2,” arrived just a year later. The movies were such big hits that the network released the third film, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” in theatres. The trilogy has since inspired merchandise like novels and videogames, as well as a spin-off movie called “Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure” and the hit Disney+ series, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.”
While the cast has reunited on several occasions over the years, we’re crossing our fingers there’s still a chance a “High School Musical 4” could happen with Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Lucas Grabeel, and Monique Coleman returning to reprise their roles.
On June 26, Hudgens, who played Gabrielle Montez in the films, posted an Instagram video of herself visiting East High, which is the school in Salt Lake City where the trilogy was filmed. Just weeks later, Efron, who played Troy Bolton, also posted a photo on Instagram of him in front of the famous school. This got us wondering whether another film could be in the works.
So, could this really be the start of something new? Here’s everything we know about the possibility of a “High School Musical 4” movie happening, including what the original cast has said about returning to the franchise.
Everett Collection / Disney Channel/Courtesy Everett Collection
Were There Ever Plans For a "High School Musical 4" Movie?
Yes, talks about “HSM4” have been ongoing for years. In 2016, Disney confirmed they had begun a nationwide search for their new set of Wildcats, hinting the original stars wouldn’t be returning. The names of the new characters were announced shortly afterwards. According to E! News, the film would centre around five students at East High, including a soccer player named Erin, a bad boy named Derek, a cheerleader named Nathalie, a former queen bee named Tamara, and a soccer captain/theatre star named Campbell, who’s also Sharpay and Ryan Evans’s cousin.
Unfortunately, “HSM4” was never made, and it’s unclear why. It’s possible the idea was scrapped due to the original cast not returning or the trilogy’s choreographer Kenny Ortega not being attached to the film.
A year after “HSM4” was first announced, Disney revealed it was developing a TV series based on the trilogy for its new streaming service. “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” arrived on Disney+ in November 2019. The first season focuses on a group of students at East High who are putting on a production of “HSM.” The series returned for a second season in 2021 and the third season in 2022. Its success, along with the launch of Disney+ could have also contributed to “HSM4” not happening.
Everett Collection / Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection
Would the Original "High School Musical" Cast Be in "High School Musical 4"?
Some original “HSM” cast members, including Efron, are up for returning to the franchise. “Of course, of course,” Efron told Variety in a May 11 interview about reprising his role as Troy. “I mean, to have an opportunity in any form to go back and work with that team would be so amazing. My heart is still there. That would be incredible. I hope it happens.”
Grabeel, who played Ryan, is also open to doing another “HSM” movie. “If Disney calls, my door is always open,” Grabeel said in a September 2017 interview with J-14. “We work well together.”
Coleman also isn’t ruling out returning as Taylor McKessie. “I love Taylor, and I feel like I learned a lot from Taylor,” she told ET in December 2021. “I can’t imagine what that story would be like, but I can’t say that it’s not possible. You never know.”
In that same interview, Bleu, aka Chad Danforth, called his time with the “HSM” cast “life-changing” and said he would love for everyone to reunite again. “Any time I see anyone it’s just a lovefest,” he said. “So getting a chance to work together again would be wonderful.”
As for Tisdale, the actress said she’s hesitant about doing another movie for one reason. “I just feel like I wouldn’t be able to really do that again and give it justice,” she said in an August 2021 interview with ET. “I think at that moment in time, I was very unaware of myself and my surroundings, and I feel like that’s a big part of Sharpay. She is just not really aware, and so as I grew up and became more aware, I think that it’s just something that it wouldn’t be the same. I would hate to ruin something that is perfect for that moment, and yeah, I don’t think I could go back to it.”
Hudgens has also seemingly moved on from the franchise for good. “That was a moment in time that was really special,” she told J-14 in November 2019. “I’ll always be grateful for it, but let’s let it be that moment in time.
Everett Collection / Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection
Why Did Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron Visit East High?
Even though no one will ever be as “fabulous” as Sharpay Evans, we still need a new drama queen to whip the school into shape.
Everett Collection / Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection
Will There Be A "High School Musical 4" Movie?
As of now, there has been no update about a “High School Musical 4″ film. If the movie is ever greenlit, it would likely star a brand new cast, but it seems like a majority of the original “HSM” cast would be on board to participate in some capacity.
