Zac Efron Joined By Two Former Disney Stars For New A24 Thriller Where He Plays Two Roles

Zac Efron is 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 the High School Musical movies with 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 movie Hairspray and the comedy 17 Again. After the High School Musical trilogy, Efron went on to star in New Year’s Eve, The Lucky One, The Paperboy, Neighbors, Dirty Grandpa, Baywatch, and The Greatest Showman. In 2023, Efron starred in the A24 film The Iron Claw as 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 a man 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, alongside Bridgerton‘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 to Variety, Nicholas Braun and Debby Ryan have joined the cast of Famous, who both have a history with the Disney Channel. Braun, best known for Succession, had earlier roles in the Disney Channel Original Movies Minutemen and Princess Protection Program. Ryan had starring roles in The Suite Life on Deck, Wishes, Jessie, and Radio Rebel.

Stephanie Koenig and Cory Michael Smith have also joined the cast of
Famous
.

Our Take On Nicholas Braun & Debby Ryan Joining Famous

Is The A24 Film Intentionally Casting Former Disney Stars?

By casting Zac Efron, Nicholas Braun, and Debby Ryan, it appears the upcoming A24 movie could be intentionally casting former Disney Channel stars, perhaps to help explore the complex 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 celebrity culture, using their pasts to comment on the potentially toxic nature of fame.

Source: Variety