Zac Efron’s Dream Cameo: Why He’s Set His Sights on Stranger Things
Zac Efron has revealed he’s keen to pop up in Stranger Things, showing just how far he’s come since his days as a teen heartthrob.
Over the years, Zac Efron has managed to sidestep the usual traps that come with being a young star. After High School Musical, plenty of folks expected him to stick with the same sort of roles, but he’s made a point of mixing things up. Rather than coasting on his early fame, he’s picked out some pretty unexpected gigs, showing he’s got more up his sleeve than just singing and dancing. Even though his early films were mostly light-hearted, he’s proven he can handle a bit of physical comedy, like in Neighbors, where he really took the mickey out of himself, or his quick but memorable turn in The Disaster Artist.
It’s not just about laughs, though. Efron’s also shown he’s up for more serious stuff. For a while, it looked like he was destined to give top-notch performances in films that didn’t quite hit the mark with punters. Take The Paperboy, for example – he was great in it, but the film itself didn’t do much for director Lee Daniels’ reputation. Same goes for his role as Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. He was captivating, but the film got bogged down in controversy over how it handled the true crime angle.
Breaking Out of the Disney Mould
Things took a turn when Efron landed the part of Kevin Von Erich in The Iron Claw. The film, a tough look at a famous wrestling family’s tragedies, finally gave him a project that matched his commitment. Even though he missed out on an Oscar nod – which many reckon he deserved – he showed he’d well and truly moved on from his Disney days.
It’s a bit of a sign of the times, too. The line between film and telly isn’t what it used to be. Not long ago, a big-screen star might have thought twice about doing a TV show, but now streaming series are packed with A-listers. You’ve got the likes of Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, Glen Powell, Mark Ruffalo, Cate Blanchett, and Billy Bob Thornton all popping up on the small screen.
Stranger Things: The Unexpected Hit
Stranger Things is a prime example of how things have changed. When it first dropped, no one really expected much – the creators weren’t household names, and apart from Winona Ryder, the cast was mostly fresh faces. But word spread, and before long, it was a full-blown phenomenon. The show’s fanbase is massive, so it’s no shock that Efron told Vogue he’d “definitely” be up for a cameo.
“Definitely”
was his answer when asked if he’d like to appear on the show.
Over the seasons, the Upside Down has welcomed a fair few famous faces. Still, Efron’s interest might have come a bit late, with the series now wrapping up its fifth and final run. Production’s been a slog, thanks to Covid, strikes, and all sorts of scheduling headaches. But with the show’s popularity, it wouldn’t be a surprise if a spin-off or prequel got the green light, giving Efron another shot at joining the world of Hawkins.