Zac Efronis joined by two former Disney stars for his new A24 thriller where he plays two roles. Efron started his career in the early 2000s and rose to fame as a teen idol in theHigh School Musicalmovieswith his lead role as the basketball star Troy Bolton. The first two films in the trilogy were released as Disney Channel Original Movies, though the third installment was released in theaters by Walt Disney Pictures.
During this same period, Efron also appeared in the musical movieHairsprayand the comedy17 Again. After theHigh School Musicaltrilogy, Efron went on to star inNew Year’s Eve,The Lucky One,The Paperboy,Neighbors,Dirty Grandpa,Baywatch, andThe Greatest Showman. In 2023,Efron starred in the A24 filmThe Iron Clawas the professional wrestler Kevin Von Erich, which was praised as a career-best performance. Now, Efron is reuniting with A24 for another film, this time playing two roles.
Zac Efron Is Joined By Two Former Disney Stars In Famous
The A24 Thriller Is Currently Filming
Zac Efron is joined by two fellow former Disney stars in the new A24 thriller,Famous. Directed by Jody Hill with a script written by Chad Hodge based on the 2010 novel by Blake Crouch, the upcoming A24 thriller follows aman who looks exactly like a movie star and heads to Los Angeles to chase his dream of becoming famous. The cast already includes Efron, who stars in dual roles, alongsideBridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor.
All 6 Zac Efron Musicals, Ranked From Worst to Best
Zac Efron has starred in some incredible musicals, from the High School Musical franchise to The Greatest Showman, but some are better than others.
Now, two former fellow Disney stars have joined Efron in the new A24 thriller. According toVariety,Nicholas Braun and Debby Ryan have joined the cast ofFamous, who both have a history with the Disney Channel. Braun, best known forSuccession, had earlier roles inSky Highand the Disney Channel Original MoviesMinutemenandPrincess Protection Program. Ryan had starring roles inThe Suite Life on Deck,Wishes,Jessie, andRadio Rebel.
Stephanie Koenig and Cory Michael Smith have also joined the cast ofFamous.
Our Take On Nicholas Braun & Debby Ryan Joining Famous
Is The A24 Film Intentionally Casting Former Disney Stars?
By castingZac Efron, Nicholas Braun, and Debby Ryan, it appears theupcoming A24 moviecould be intentionally casting former Disney Channel stars, perhaps to help explore the transition from youthful stardom to the darker sides of fame. Their shared history with the Disney Channel provides them with a unique understanding of the pressures and pitfalls that come with growing up in the spotlight. These casting choices could enhance the film’s exploration of its main theme, leveraging their pasts to comment on the dark side of celebrity culture.
