Ledger Pop Journal - Celebrity News & Sports

Could anyone imagine the High School Musical franchise without teen stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale? Life & Style Weekly has reported that may be the case if the players don't get their cash. And they deserve it. The first High School Musical cost only $4.2 million to make and grossed $100 million.

High School Musical 3: Show Zac Efron, Vanessa and Ashley the Money

Add to that the cash that's already rolling in from HSM2 – the most watched basic cable telecast ever – and merchandising, and Disney's take from a trilogy would be enough to throw one major prom party. No wonder the actors want a bigger piece of the action! It's time to show all three the money.


Disney execs are said to be rushing to sign the stars for a third film, but conflicts over issues like salaries and script approval are holding things up. "The powers that be know the kids deserve more money, so they're trying to work with them," says an insider.

Life & Style reports that leading the charge is Zac, 19, the series' breakout star, who's gone on record saying he hopes not to do many more sequels. He's just been offered $2.75 million, says an insider close to him, and other leads have been offered $1 million. But no one has signed on the dotted line."Zac's telling the other actors to make sure they get what they deserve," says the Zac insider. "He's telling them their worth and showing them what else is out there."


A report from the weekly entertainment magazine notes that the actors are definitely entitled to every penny. "High School Musical is Disney's next huge franchise. After a theatrical release, I can see this going to Broadway." New York Daily News TV critic David Bianculli tells Life and Style. "I would say that with the runaway success of the first two films, the leads could command as much a $3 million to $5 million."

Vanessa tried to soften the reports and said in an interview at the Teen Choice Awards that the reports overblown and they are still in negotiations.