As any 10-year-old can tell you, “High School Musical” ‘s anthem is “We’re All in This Together.”
Well, tween favorite Zac Efron clearly needs to give the soundtrack of that hugely popular TV movie another listen. Given how badly he’s allegedly been behaving during the shooting of the sequel to this Disney Channel Original.
Ever since production of “High School Musical 2” began back on March 6th, reports have been trickling back to Burbank about Zac’s diva-like behavior. With this 19-year-old (Who recently completed working on the movie version of the Broadway musical “Hairspray” and is rumored to be up for the title role in the Wachowski Brothers‘ big-screen version of “Speed Racer“) now reportedly feeling that appearing in a mere TV movie is beneath him.
Which is why Efron is supposedly making life miserable for everyone else who’s working on “HSM2.” Doing everything from holding up rehearsals to convincing his now-real-life girl friend Vanessa Hudgens (Who plays Gabriella to Zac’s Troy in the “High School Musical” films) to also give director Kenny Ortega and the rest of the “High School Musical” production team attitude.
“Why exactly is Efron doing this?,” you ask. Allegedly because he wants Walt Disney Pictures to drop its plans to make the recently announced third installment of the “HSM” series, “Haunted High School Musical.” Which is now tentatively slated for theatrical release in October of 2008.
“And why would Zac want to do something like that?,” you continue. Well, according to what a Disney Channel insider (Who’s privy to everything that’s been going on on the “High School Musical 2” set) recently told me:
“Efron’s looking to pull a John Travolta. Do what his ‘Hairspray’ co-star did back in the 1970s. Which is suddenly go from being a high profile performer on a hit TV project like ‘Welcome Back, Kotter‘ to then having a major career with motion pictures. Zac’s worried that — unless he’s able to quickly put all of these ‘High School Musical’ TV movies behind him — that he’s going to wind up being typecast. Thought of by Hollywood elite as that tween favorite who makes musicals for basic cable channels.”
Okay. I know. It sounds kind of unlikely that a performer could ever actually leverage his or her success on the Disney Channel into a full-blown movie career. Unless — of course — you take into consideration Shia LeBeouf.
Shia (as you may recall) was able to turn his solid work on “Even Stevens” into the opportunity to appear in such Walt Disney Pictures releases as “Holes” and “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” Those films in turn led to LeBeouf being cast in soon-to-be-released high profile projects like “Disturbia” and “Transformers.” Which then reportedly led to him landing the role of Indiana Jones’ son in the upcoming “Indy 4.”
But Shia got to where he is today not just because of his talent. But also through patience, perservance and hard work. More importantly, LeBoeuf knows how the game is actually played out in Hollywood. In that performers typically get rewarded after they’ve paid their dues for a while. Whereas Zac Efron … He supposedly wants to be a movie star now. Which is why Efron had best heed what happened to Hilary Duff.
How many of you remember what happened back in June of 2003 when that star of the “Lizzie Maquire” TV series walked away from a high stakes negotiation with the Walt Disney Company (Which called for a new “Lizzie” spin-off series to begin airing on ABC as well as a series of “Maguire” motion pictures). All because — as Hilary’s mom, Susan, put it back then — “We weren’t feeling the love.” Translation: The Mouse wasn’t willing to pay Duff what Hilary’s mom thought her daughter was actually worth.
Nearly four years later, though Hilary has made movies like “Cheaper by the Dozen,” “A Cinderella Story” and “Material Girls” and released several albums … Duff’s career doesn’t have anything approaching the heat that it once had, back when she was still working for the Mouse. Which is why Hilary’s reps at Hollywood Records are now trying to mend fences with the rest of the Walt Disney Company. To see if some sort of deal can be struck so that the Disney Channel & Disney Online can then get behind the promotion of Duff’s latest recording, “Dignity.” Which goes on sale April 3rd.
Which is why Zac may really want to reconsider his decision to bite the three-fingered glove that’s been feeding him. Particularly given how much the Walt Disney Company seems to be counting on the “High School Musical” franchise to keep adding to the company’s coffers in the years yet to come.
Copyright 2007 Feld Entertainment / Disney Enterprises, Inc.
I mean, just in the past two weeks, we’ve had Feld Entertainment announce the tour dates for “High School Musical : The Ice Tour,” Disney Theatrical reveal that it will be sending a professional stage production of “High School Musical” out on the road beginning on June 26th, as well as the Disney Channel leak that the “High School Musical: The Concert” TV special will first air on May 4th at 9 p.m.
We’re talking about a franchise that has already made well over $400 million for the Walt Disney Company. Which is why Mouse House execs are really not looking kindly on Efron’s recent on-set behavior as well as his efforts to derail “Haunted High School Musical.”
What Zac needs to understand is that Hollywood is a very small town. And people will begin talking once a performer starts behaving like a prima donna.
Of course, Efron may realize that now. Especially given that — late last week — the Hollywood Reporter revealed that Emile Hirsch now appears to have the inside track when it comes to winning the title role in “Speed Racer.”
Did the makers of the “Matrix” trilogy actually opt to go with another actor because of the stories that have been circulating out west about Zac’s behavior on the set of “HSM2” ? Well, let’s put it this way: Those tales certainly didn’t help Efron’s chances of landing that role.
Truth be told, Zac was always something of a long shot when it came to being cast as Speed. Ironically enough, if “Hairspray” and then “Haunted High School Musical” turn out to be big enough box office successes, those two movies might eventually lead to more film work for Efron.
That is — of course — if Disney execs are still planning on making Zac a member of the cast for that third “High School Musical” movie. Given how badly Efron’s reportedly been behaving on the set of “HSM2” … Well, his participation in the third film of this highly lucrative franchise is no longer a given. Maybe Mickey will opt instead to build “HHSM” around Corbin Bleu. Who’s now thought to be more of a team player than Efron is (And — of course — the fact that Bleu’s Disney Channel movie, “Jump In,” actually pulled in higher ratings than “High School Musical” ever did hasn’t gone unnoticed by Mouse House executives either).
Mind you, it’s still not too late for Zac to turn things around. After all, “High School Musical 2” is slated to continue shooting now through April 16th. Maybe if this 19-year-old changes his attitude, drops the prima donna routine … Disney execs may be willing to overlook his earlier behavior. Maybe.
But — until that happens — the set of “High School Musical 2” will remain a very tense place. As the other members of the cast as well as the production crew for this “HSM” sequel find that “We’re All in This Together.” At least when it comes to suffering through Zac Efron’s on-set antics.
Your thoughts?