Now that High School Musical has wrapped up its third movie installment, which is also the last time all the original cast members would be featured, lead star Zac Efron is more than ready to take on more movie projects, including 17 Again, Footloose and Hairspray 2.

Among the three, the 20-year-old heartthrob has finished shooting 17 Again, a comedy that stars Friends alum Matthew Perry and is expected to hit theaters in April 2009. Footloose, on the other hand, is a remake of the 1984 film about a teenager who helps a town that’s forbidden to dance.  And though the highly anticipated film will be directed by High School Musical director Kenny Ortega, Efron’s not signing on the dotted line just yet.

According to Variety, the young actor is holding out for a mid-seven-figure salary and script approval.

“There’s a lot of wrong ways to do this movie,” the High School Musical star said.  “It’s a matter of finding the right balance.  Until we find it, I can’t fully…commit.”

But Footloose isn’t the only the dance-themed movie Zac Efron fans can look forward to in the coming months.  Hairspray 2, the sequel to the musical adaptation of the 2002 Broadway musical of the same name, and a remake of John Waters' 1988 comedy film, also seems to be in the cards for Efron.  And though nothing has been made official yet, director Adam Shankman hints on the potential plot for the sequel about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show, as well as what’s in store for Efron’s character, Link.

In Hairspray 2, Efron’s Link may be seen bringing out his inner Austin Powers and will "become steeped in the British Invasion."

"We're trying to track, in a comedic way, the historical elements," he added.  "We just got an outline and some ideas from John Waters, and now we're going out to writers."

-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: EW, Daily Telegraph
(Image courtesy of Wire Image)