We expect most of you have read that headline and immediately become this…
…so take a few moments to collect yourselves before reading on because holy shit this is actually happening.
The Disney Channel has officially announced that we’re all heading back to East High, with the House of Mouse confirming that High School Musical 4 is a go.
The wildly successful franchise was last seen in 2008 with the release of High School Musical 3: Senior Year – the only one of the original trilogy that scored a theatrical release – raking in a mind-boggling $252million at the box office.
The original trilogy of films represents the Disney Channel‘s most successful property, with the second instalment in particular drawing in 17.2 million viewers when it aired in 2007. The films also launched the careers of its cast – Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale.
The fourth film in the franchise will not only see Disney return to East High, but will also take a closer look at the Wildcats chief rivals, the West High Knights.
Disney president Gary Marsh confirmed the new film in a short statement.
“High School Musical is part of Disney Channel’s DNA. It embodies all that we stand for. As a way of continuing to embrace that heritage, we’re excited to announce ‘the start of something new’ as we launch a search for a new class of East High Wildcats to star in a fourth instalment of the ‘High School Musical’ franchise.”
The casting process is currently underway, and there’s no word yet on if any of the OG HSM class will make appearances. Nor is it confirmed if Disney will air the film on its cable channel, or shoot for a theatrical release.
But hey, you know how the saying goes.
Source: E! Online.
