On March 1, Tuesday, Disney Channel officially announced that "High School Musical 4" is happening. A nationwide casting search already started as it is unlikely for Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale to return as the lead stars of the sequel.
"High School Musical 4" is said to introduce new East High Wildcats and West High Knights, the cross-town school rivals. In a statement, Disney Channels Worldwide President and CEO Gary Marsh said that "High School Musical" is "part of Disney Channel's DNA" and it embodies all that they stand for.
It was in eight years ago when Efron, Hudgens and Tishdale played their respective roles as Troy Bolton, Gabriella Montez and Sharpay Evans in the third installment of the film series. It was directed by Kenny Ortega.
"High School Musical 3: Senior Year" was released on Oct. 24, 2008. Among Efron, Hudgens and Tisdale's co-stars include Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Olesya Rulin, Chris Warreen, Ryne Sanborn, Alyson Reed and KayCee Stroh.
"Teen Beach" director Jeffrey Hornaday will both direct and choreograph the fourth instalment. Peter Barsocchini is returning to write the screenplay along with "Hannah Montana: The Movie" writer Dan Berendsen.
While Efron, Hudgens and Tisdale are too old to believably play teenagers, they are expected to make cameos in the fourth installment. Efron is even said to play a basketball coach.
Efron is set to star in "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates" opposite Adam DeVine and in the "Baywatch" film with Dwayne Johnson and Alexandra Daddario. In an interview with People in December 2015, Daddario said Zefron was "so nice and obviously incredibly handsome and seems down to earth" she looks forward to getting to know the actor better.
On the other hand, Hudgens' most recent film was the musical "Grease Live!" She played Rizzo opposite Aaron Tveit as Danny Zuko and Julianne Hough as Sandy.
Hudgens is also set to star in the comedy TV film "Powerless," which is written by Ben Queen and directed by Michael Patrick Jann.
As for Tisdale, she has completed the upcoming comedy film "Amateur Night." She is currently filming the animation film "Charming," in which she is voicing Cinderella.
Watch the music video of the "High School Musical" song "We are All in This Together" here: