While his girlfriend is getting ready to strip on stage for a production of
Rent (organized by Neil Patrick Harris himself!), Zac Efron is preparing himself for another tough role too. The
High School Musical star will be portraying a criminal on the upcoming remake of
Snabba Cash, a Swedish thriller based on a 2006 novel by Jens Lapidus.
Read: Vanessa Hudgens to Play Stripper on Rent
The Hollywood Reporter announced that the 22-year-old actor will star and produce the film. Warner Bros. bought the rights to
Snabba Cash, which follows three storylines about drugs and crime.
These plots are interconnected by the main character, a young man hoping to earn some fast cash. How? Doing runs for a coke dealer.
On the original version of
Snabba Cash, the lead was portrayed by Joel Kinnaman. Now, Zac Efron will be taking over the role. It's just one of the ways he wants to break out in the industry as a serious actor, instead of that
High School Musical kid we remember him as.
With Zac Efron running his own Warners-based branch with manager Jason Barrett, we're sure those new projects will pour in. He's really trying to step out of that pretty-boy image he's known for, having bowed out of the
Footloose remake months ago.
If you're having a hard time picturing Zac Efron in
Snabba Cash, try watching the trailer of the original film below. We can't provide subtitles though.
Meanwhile, some of Efron's fellow
High School Musical stars haven't quite let go of the franchise. Even though they have other projects -
Lucas Grabeel on CSI and
Corbin Bleu on Broadway, there are a couple ladies who might want to return to their Disney roots.
We reported earlier that
Ashley Tisdale will be starring in a 2011 spin-off of the hit movie series, titled
Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure. But she might not be the only one coming back. Vanessa Hudgens said she could be persuaded.
"I don't know, maybe!" the actress told
MTV News. "If [Ashley's] like, 'Heyy!' I'd be like, OK!' Well, she's my best, best friend! I'm stoked for her and it's going to be awesome!"
We hope we can say the same for her on
Rent, and for Efron on
Snabba Cash. But we're certain one of those will rate higher than the other.
(Image Courtesy of WENN)