Pre-production for "High School Musical 4" is rolling and the Disney special has yet to receive a confirmed air date. But as casting is underway, fans of the franchise are waiting to hear if original HSM stars Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens are going to return. The speculations are rife, but here's everything to know so far.
'High School Musical 4' Plot, Cast And Script Leak
In March, Disney confirmed that "High School Musical 4" is coming. It follows 10 years after the original special was aired on the channel. It will feature five new lead characters and one of them is related to Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) and Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), who were in the earlier TV musicals, E! Online reports.
The plot to "High School Musical 4" is about school rivalry, as the East High Wildcats pits against West High Knights. Sports, cheerleading and love of theater will still figure into the storyline, as it was in the original "High School Musical."
Fans believe that part of the "High School Musical 4" script was leaked, as posted on a Disney site. It reveals a soccer player named Peyton who is a lot like Troy Bolton (Zac Efron).
Casting call for new actors was done in May in Aneheim. Former "HSM" cast member Corbin Bleu, who used to play Chad, graced the auditions to talk to the aspirant, per Parent Herald.
Disney star Merit Leighton is supposedly being eyed to play the lead, per Just Jared. The studio has yet to make any confirmation on the actors.
5 Things That *Must* Happen in "High School Musical 4" https://t.co/Dxi4h0yKOh
— Seventeen (@seventeen) June 21, 2016
'High School Musical 4' Cameo: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale
Among the three former "High School Musical" stars, it's only Ashley Tisdale who explicitly said she has no desire to return to the franchise, per Parent Herald. Clamor for a Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens reunion in "High School Musical 4" remain strong, but both actors have been indifferent about their comeback as well. In fact, Zac Efron dished that he didn't like how his "HSM" character branded him for most of his career, per Men's Fitness.
Zac Efron has been keeping his schedules tight doing movies after movies, while Vanessa Hudgens is set to star in her own TV series, "Powerless" on NBC. With the former young stars moving on to bigger projects and commitments, their return or cameo in the special might be harder to organize. However, Disney should have a few surprises up their sleeves, right?
