Disney announced Tuesday that High School Musical 4 will premiere on the Disney Channel in 2010. Yay! I think? Disney said the made-for-TV movie will feature an entirely new cast of East High Wildcats, since Troy (Zac Efron), Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens), and Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) will have graduated.
To me, this begs the question: Can HSM survive without Zac Efron? Based on my limited exposure to the movies, it’s rather apparent that perhaps the main reason people (and especially legions of young girls) watch HSM is for Efron. Adorable? Sure. But it isn’t just that. More than any other actor in the series, Efron seems to be the one always putting in 110 percent, and his movie stardom has always appeared to be just around the corner (see: Hairspray).
So, HSM fans, will you dance to the tunes of High School Musical 4 even if Efron’s mug isn’t singing along? And what do you make of the series’ return to the tube after High School Musical 3: Senior Year played in theaters to the tune of $251 million worldwide? Bring it!
i think it’ll be ok. a little weird since everyone of the original cast will be gone. but i think the series was so successful because of the energy and the music. they looked like they were genuinley having fun. It might start out as popular-but it’ll get there. It’ll work out.
well, I’ll still watch, if only because, if they’re made by the same people, the songs will still be hypnotically catchy, and I won’t really have a choice.
I watch HSM mostly for Zac but also for Lucas.
Honestly, the 3rd movie seemed to be setting up a Wildcats t.v. series with Sharpay sticking around to keep things interesting. I think that’s the better avenue rather that beating the made-for-tv movie venue to death.
It’ll be a huge ratings magnet if Disney casts some of the kids from last summer’s reality contest. The HHM fans will eat that up!
ditto that I watch it as much for Lucas as I do Zac.
but I’m sure I’ll watch HSM4 anyways even though it’ll probably never quite get that perfect blend of happy cheesiness and so-bad-it’s-good-awesomeness.
While there would be some who would be watching out of curiosity (I’m one of them), I don’t think this will be as successful as the previous installments. The main tween fan base have already become older and has moved on to other (hopefully more mature) things. The new generation of tweens may not be interested anymore since they would want what’s fresh out there.
I compare it to Saved by the Bell, the new class. With that Zack, it didn’t match up to the original.
A disney channel kid is a disney channel kid…Zac Effron isn’t the first, and he won’t be the last. The movie will do fine without him.
I think HSM4 will be fine without Zac Efron. It’s a huge franchise at this point, and with the right main characters, it’ll still be just as popular and the kids will love it.
Considering he didn’t really sing any (or most of) the first movies songs, I think while tough, if they can get right, the next movie will work fine without Zac or the original cast. The supporting cast is was really made these movies interesting, you could tell the writers didn’t intend on the supporting members doing so well based on their lack of anything to in HSM1. I’m holding out the next one will be good.
If “Tiara Gold” returns for HSM4 the movie is sure to deliver lots of laughter.
hey troy u are so cute and think you guys should have a h.s.m.4
love anna
They need to (a) stay away from bringing anyone back from the original casts and (b) resist the need to cast any of the kids in the existing Disney stable. It’s not going to be the same – they have to recognize that – so start over at a new school with new kids.
I won’t be as inclined to watch it (I’m a Corbin gal myself), but I’m sure w/ the HSM-crazy nieces, I’ll be roped in to at least one showing.
The thing that Disney does best is bringing along the next batch of stars when everyone thinks there is no way to top the ones they have. Kids will watch the new HSM the same way they watched Camp Rock–it will seem like HSM, it will have bouncy songs and dance numbers and happy, pretty young people. I have an 8 year old girl who LOVES the series…and I can guarantee she’ll be watching it.