Monday, August 20, 2007

Out Of Body

Christine Spines of Entertainment Weekly reports that tween sensation Zac Efron has signed on for his first leading-man role in New Line Cinema's comedy/drama "Seventeen".

Described as 'Big' in reverse; the story follows a 36-year-old man, in need of a major life change, wakes up and finds himself in the body of a good looking high school senior.

Seventeen co-producer Jennifer Gibgot: ''It's a very multi layered role, which is what attracted Zac to this idea,''

Gibgot, who has been working with Efron to shape the role that could expand Efron's fanbase beyond the screaming tween crowd...adding ''It's a good transitional movie that will appeal to his audience and hopefully bring in more adults,''

Efron had been in talks for the film since February and finalized negotiations on Thursday. "Hairspray" director Adam Shankman is also producing, and production could begin as early as November.

Is it just me, or does the premise echo the comedy 18 Again!, which starred the legendary George Burns and 80's star Charlie Schlatter?

For this movie to accomplish it's goal of broadening Efron's audience---The script has to be above average...giving Efron the chance to think outside of his singing/dancing box.

That said, there's no denying Zac's on a roll: High School Musical 2 sets ratings record; Hairspray is gonna pass $100 million and he's the cover boy on this week's Rolling Stone named as "The New American Heart-Throb" in the process



What this "Seventeen" news means for the Efron-attached Footloose remake and the already planned High School Musical 3 is unclear...Will those projects be pushed back? Can he do 2 at the same time or will they recast?

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