It’s hard to believe, but it’s been nearly a decade since Zac Efron and Alexandra Daddario donned the famous red swimsuits for Baywatch. If we need any evidence that time passes swiftly and that everything comes full circle, just shortly before the movie turns 10, Fox will be premiering its brand new and heavily hyped Baywatch revival TV series at midseason. Ahead of this, Efron is now warning against having to stay so fit.

I would be remiss if I didn’t note it’s well-known Zac Efron’s swimsuit-ready body on Baywatch was a slog for him. He’s spoken out about it before, saying he went so hard in the paint with workouts and eating he got depressed and the experience totally “burned” him “out.” He learned from that experience, and so when he did The Iron Claw a few years later, he figured out how to beef up in a way that was healthier.

These days he has a better perspective on his fitness, and he really wants those working themselves to the limits to take heed, telling Heat Magazine:

While it’s certainly hard to stay Baywatch fit, I do think it’s worth noting the reboot on Fox is in good hands. It stars Stephen Amell, who is known for his Green Arrow physique and whom I have seen doing literal salmon ladders to keep his fitness as in check as possible. If you’ve seen footage of him on the Baywatch set, it’s hard to believe the man’s in his mid-forties; he’s got some Tom Brady genes going on.

People hang onto body fat at different rates, and the diligence it took on the 2017 movie makes it clear the level of consistency and sacrifice it took Zac Efron to maintain was not healthy. He said it took some soul-searching to get to a place where he’s more comfortable with himself and what he wants.

He moved to Australia and away from the Hollywood limelight years ago, and more recently he’s been in the news lately because he’s building a sustainable compound with the help of designer Joost Bakker that’s being dubbed a “Futurecave.” I doubt we'll be getting a cameo from him in Fox's upcoming production given he feels about how he punished his body in the pursuit of physical perfection.

Believe it or not, Baywatch has always been a grueling job; even the OG cast attests to that. But it's also iconic, aspirational, and fun. The idea of the show coming back was so popular that thousands of people showed up for a casting call, and there's a whole new generation of men and women who will "only run in slow motion now" as the show gears up. Hopefully, they have a better relationship with fitness than Efron did when Fox's reboot hits the 2026 TV schedule this fall.

Zac Efron has a big project brewing, and I'm not talking about a 2026 movie release. No, it would seem the actor’s Australia era is starting to look very permanent. Efron has been linked to life Down Under for years and, now, his long-in-the-works sustainable home, nicknamed the “Futurecave,” has reportedly moved from eco-dream-board territory into actual construction.

Efron has been quietly living in the Byron Bay area while work moves forward on the home project, which sits on a 128-hectare property near Tomewin in New South Wales, per Daily Mail Australia. Environmental designer Joost Bakker recently shared behind-the-scenes updates on Instagram from the build, including experimental materials being developed for the home. The post is captioned:

The project reportedly broke ground after years of planning, with Bakker posting on social media in May that he was “excited to get started on Zac’s house.” Per First for Women, the High School Musical franchise star first connected with Bakker after visiting the designer’s Future Food Systems installation in Melbourne while filming Down to Earth With Zac Efron, his series, which streams to anyone with a Netflix subscription. That connection eventually turned into the actor asking Bakker to design his own home.

And this does not sound like a normal celebrity mansion. The Futurecave is reportedly being built around hemp, plant-based materials, rooftop gardens and off-grid systems.

The Futurecave Is Going Big On Hemp

Hemp is apparently central to the entire project. According to the report, the home will use hemp-derived materials for internal bricks, joinery, curtains, pillows and even a custom mattress. Bakker has also posted about plant-based boards, hemp blocks and bio-based circular resin, framing the project as a test case for more sustainable building materials.

That may sound like something from a very expensive climate-conscious mood board, but the details are genuinely interesting. Bakker has described experimenting with alternatives to concrete, including hemp and oyster-based materials, in hopes of creating building products that breathe, resist mold and improve indoor air quality. The goal appears to be bigger than one famous actor’s house. Bakker has said he and Efron want hemp to become a more mainstream crop.

The property itself also sounds ridiculous in a very Efron-vanishes-into-nature kind of way. Reports describe the land as having rainforest, waterfalls, creeks and old cedar trees. The home is expected to include six bedroom pods connected by outdoor walkways, with rooftop gardens designed to support native butterflies, fireflies and frogs.

Zac Efron Has Been Building Toward This For Years

Efron’s relationship with Australia has been more than a passing pandemic-era detour. He filmed Gold in the South Australian outback in 2020 and returned to film the second season of his Emmy-winning series in 2021. Efron has also popped up at Australian events in the years since, including the Formula One Australian Grand Prix.

The Futurecave seems to align with the public version of Efron that fans have seen more and more of in recent years. All in all, the Iron Claw star seems to be focused less on Hollywood chaos, more on health, nature and space to breathe. He told the outlet that between movies and press tours, one of his main goals is to rest, recharge and get as close to nature as possible.

After years of Efron seeming increasingly at home in Australia, the Futurecave feels like a major next step. He may still be a Hollywood star, but his most interesting current production might be the house itself.

It’s hard to believe that it's been 20 years since the first High School Musical arrived on Disney Channel and completely changed the world. Before the MCU and Star Wars, one of the biggest franchises Disney had was a teen-focused musical on basic cable. It was the sort of popularity that nobody saw coming, except possibly the director.

Kenny Ortega is one of the great choreographers and directors of musical films. He worked with major stars from Madonna to Elton John and handled choreography on films like Dirty Dancing and Pretty in Pink. He began his relationship with Disney in the early ‘90s directing Newsies and Hocus Pocus, so he was a natural choice when it came to finding somebody to helm High School Musical.

Speaking with People on the occasion of the first film’s anniversary, Ortega says that while filming the movie’s big musical finale in the gym, the song "We’re All in This Together,” he realized that the movie had the potential to be something special. In his words...

Needless to say, Disney marketing did its job, and a juggernaut is exactly what happened. Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens became overnight stars alongside the likes of Ashley Tisdale.

Nearly 8 million people tuned in to watch the original film. It would spawn two sequels and a global concert tour. The second movie would become the most-watched basic cable program in history at the time. This would lead the third film to actually get a theatrical release. The movie was a massive hit in theaters to, and due to its relatively minuscule budget, is arguably one of the more profitable studio films ever made.

High School Musical would also spawn a number of films inspired by its success. We’d get the Camp Rock films, which are set to get a third installment this summer. The modern Descendants and Zombies musicals are carrying on the tradition today that started with this film.

And the High School Musical franchise has never really gone away. Following the launch of Disney+, we got High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a sort of spinoff/reboot of the franchise that once again created new stars, including Olivia Rodrigo.

I came to the High School Musical movies a little late (and a lot older) than most, but they won me over just the same. They’re incredibly fun movies, and that’s just as true today as it was 20 years ago.

Though the winner of Dancing with the Stars Season 34 has been crowned, the internet is still buzzing with some of the most viral moments from this season, including one involving Zac Efron. His brother, Dylan Efron, was a celebrity participant this season, paired with Daniella Karagach. When Zac finally appeared on screen reacting to his brother’s semifinals tango, the clip went viral as people tried to interpret what he was saying. Now, Dylan is setting the record straight on what was actually said during that DWTS clip and, apparently, the internet got it wrong.

In the viral DWTS clip, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach are given a score of 27, and the cameras immediately cut to the Greatest Showman actor sitting in the audience. In the video, the eldest Efron appears to be asking his mom if that score was good, or possibly asking if that was their high score, seemingly a little confused.

The internet has been bickering over this moment ever since. So, when Dylan Efron made a guest appearance on Smith Sisters Live last week, they had to know what really happened. The DWTS celeb shared truth behind the viral moment with the sisters in this clip from Sirius XM:

Ah, so it seems Zac Efron wasn’t confused over how the show and scoring worked, but rather why his brother’s groovy tango got the score it did. I have to say, I was thinking the same thing after watching the performance, which includes a lot of complex movements and spins. The final product is all the more impressive after Efron's detailing of the intense week-long process of learning a new dance, which is on his social media.

Many people waited all season to possibly see Efron and Karagach work some High School Musical choreo into a performance. However, I'd argue that Efron’s dedication to the competition (during which he broke his nose) arguably ended up outshining his famous brother’s shadow. Although, they did perform a touching contemporary with Efron’s little sister, Olivia, to Zac Efron and Zendaya’s version of “Rewrite The Stars” on dedication night.

To DWTS Season 33 champ Joey Graziadei’s credit, Dylan Efron was a great dark horse candidate this season for this reason. Perhaps his growth over the course of the competition should have been taken into consideration with this Week 9 score and, according to the reality star, big brother Zac would agree:

Moral of the story: don’t question Zac Efron’s fierce support of his brother again. I think I would also be miffed if the internet assumed I hadn’t been keeping up with the reality show my sibling was competing in. The two extremely handsome brothers seem close, and I’m sure the Neighbors star had been keeping tabs on the competition. Dylan Efron previously expressed how much it meant to have his family in the audience but, of course the one time Zac is able to support his brother in person, it spirals into internet chaos.

Unfortunately, the Traitors Season 3 champ fell short of a second reality TV win, coming in fourth on DWTS, even with his brother possibly rigging the votes via social media. However, I have enjoyed seeing another side of Dylan Efron and viewing him as more than Zac Efron’s younger brother, and I’m excited to see what he does next.

It’s official, Zac Efron plans to build his forever home near Byron Bay in Australia. Like Chris Hemsworth, Efron left L.A. to live in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he has been back and forth ever since, filming projects like Down To Earth With Zac Efron and Gold. Now he has plans to build a home from the ground up, and it’s coming with one surprising feature.

Zac Efron is once again taking it upon himself to lead by example when it comes to climate friendly practices, and this new house might just be his biggest investment yet. The Firestarter actor has enlisted the help of environmental activist Joost Bakker. According to Bakker's Instagram, the two plan to build Efron’s home out of mainly hemp plant and oyster shells. Yes, I’m completely serious. Take a look:

In 2020, The Iron Claw actor sold his L.A. home and bought the property near Byron Bay. While he was seemingly enjoying van life for a while, Efron is apparently ready to set down permanent roots, literally. Bakker told The Sydney Morning Herald that nearly everything from the internal walls, insulation, rugs and curtains, to even Efron’s mattresses, will be primarily made out of the cannabis plant. This gives a whole new meaning to living the high life.

The question you might be asking is, why hemp? For starters, the Greatest Showman actor told the Australian environmentalist he wanted the “most healthy home on the planet,” and industrial hemp happens to be a fast-growing, carbon neutral plant to produce. For Efron’s “greenhouse,” they are taking things a step further, using oyster shells instead of lime to bind the hemp bricks, cutting out the need to mine materials.

Since the hemp laws in Australia were changed in 2017 to allow the growth of industrial hemp, the Greenhouse By Joost docu-subject has become a leading expert and architect on building with the cannabis plant. Bakkar’s own self-sustaining, zero waste home was featured in Season 2, Episode 4 of Efron’s docuseries Down To Earth, which is presumably where the A Family Affair actor first planted the idea to create his own sustainable residence with Bakker’s help.

Down To Earth’s two seasons, which are available to stream with a Netflix subscription, follow the High School Musical actor and superfood expert Darin Olien as they travel the globe in search of healthier and more eco-friendly ways to live. The second season, titled "Down Under," focused on Australia, the place Efron had been spending most of his time when he wasn’t working on film sets.

If this hasn’t already been pitched to Netflix, I think a docu-crew following the process of making Efron’s greenhouse would make a perfect Down To Earth Season 3. The build isn’t supposed to start until February 2026, and is estimated to be complete around September of next year. So there’s still plenty of time to get this greenlit!

In the meantime, Zac Efron has been spending time in L.A. before the big transition. In addition to watching his brother compete on Dancing With The Stars Season 34, the Neighbors actor is filming a thriller titled Famous alongside Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor. The upcoming A24 movie hopefully will be released sometime on the 2026 movie schedule.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for Dancing with the Stars Season 34 episode "Prince Night." Stream the episode with a Disney+ subscription, and read at your own risk!

Dancing with the Stars Season 34 locked down its competitors for the season finale and, while that was the major headline of the night, it wasn't the only one. After weeks of fans wondering where he was, Zac Efron finally showed up to support his brother, Dylan. Zac might've just been the X factor his brother needed to join the finalists in the competition. But, aside from that, fans are loving a moment involving the Efrons' mom.

Zac Efron was the good brother, cheering on his brother from the sidelines. Simultaneously, though, the internet clocked a hilarious moment he had with his mother. It turns out, Zac may not have watched the ABC competition to this point, as he had to ensure, before he clapped, that his brother scored well on his dance performance. Take a look:

I love the way his face lit up when he heard his brother did well, because it's clear he was legitimately unsure if a score of "27" was something to be happy about. Granted, I would feel the same way if I'd never watched Dancing with the Stars, perhaps assuming anything short of perfect 10s wasn't good enough.

Overall, it was a hilarious moment, and one that I'm glad more people enjoyed as well. Here's just a collection of some of the reactions across the internet:

• Ge doesn’t know where he is, I’m crying.
• It’s giving big brother at your dance recital 😂
• He genuinely has ZERO clue. And I love it. 😂
• My husband and I cackled at this lmaooo.
• Probably thought the scale went to 100 lmaoooo.
• Bro is cheering like he just guessed the right answer on a game show.

The Iron Claw star may not know scores, be he knows how to support his brother. Via his Instagram stories, Zac Efron encouraged his followers to vote for Dylan and, despite him having the lowest combined score of the evening, he advanced on to the finale alongside Alix Earle, Robert Irwin, Jordan Chiles and Elaine Hendrix.

That meant Whitney Leavitt was sent home instead, though there was chatter thatThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives star was on the chopping block anyway after various controversies throughout the season tied to her show. In any case, that, combined with Zac Efron's efforts, might've helped him make his way to the finale.

I think it's safe to say that Dylan Efron is an underdog heading into Dancing With The Stars' Season 34 finale, because there are two heavy favorites who seem destined to walk out of the competition holding that Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.

Robert Irwin feels like the clear favorite, with his fans begging him to keep dancing after his time on the show is over. Alix Earle could be poised to pull off the upset, however, as the TikTok influencer's performances have been nearly flawless despite her fear of performing live. I wish Elaine Hendrix, Jordan Chiles and Efron the best, but if Irwin and Earle end up losing, I would speculate that something went horribly wrong. Then again, when he's pulling off moves like this in a dance, it's possible Dylan is capable of pulling off what some may consider impossible:

Tune in for Dancing With The Stars' Season 34 finale on Tuesday, November 25th, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. Get ready for a thrilling season finale full of spectacle, and have some tissues handy for what could be an emotional night.

Spoilers are ahead for Dancing with the Stars' "Prince Night" semi-finals, available streaming now with a Disney+ subscription.

With just one week left before Dancing with the Stars' Season 34 finale, the stakes were sky-high for "Prince Night" on November 18 in the 2025 TV schedule. That meant viewers getting to hear some classic songs like "Purple Rain," "Kiss," and "Little Red Corvette" throughout the semi-finals episode, but Dylan Efron had a little more than some great music to boost his spirits: older brother Zac Efron was in the audience. Now, with Dylan advancing to the finale, viewers who think that the High School Musical vet's appearance was "rigging the election" have some strong opinions.

While Dylan Efron qualified as a "star" for Dancing with the Stars on his own merit after The Traitors, there has been buzz all along about his older brother (and movie musical star) possibly dropping by. Their mom once dreamed of Zac competing, and Dylan fielded questions about whether Season 34 would include a High School Musical tribute. Zac, who has shown his moves off in projects like Hairspray, The Greatest Showman, and even The Iron Claw beyond the world of Troy Bolton and HSM, appeared on "Prince Night," and was... heavily showcased, let's say.

By that I mean that the camera cut over to where Zac Efron was sitting with little sister Olivia in the audience frequently while Dylan and partner Daniella Karagach were getting their feedback from the judges, with Derek Hough calling attention to Zac's presence during his comments and Bruno Tonioli saying "I see leading men run in the family here!" Even if you knew nothing about Dylan's older brother before this episode, it would have been clear that he's a big deal in showbiz.

And according to some fans on social media, Zac Efron helped Dylan Efron get ahead in the voting game by his mere presence, resulting in the elimination of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast member Whitney Leavitt. Whitney and partner Mark Ballas did get scores of 29 for both their cha-cha-cha and Viennese waltz, compared to Dylan getting a 27 for his tango and 28 for his cha-cha-cha with Daniella, which were among the lowest scores of the night.

It's impossible to say for sure if Dylan got a boost from his older brother turning up, but Zac did spread the word about Dylan on DWTS by posting how to vote on an Instagram Story. Take a look:

None of this is to accuse the Efron brothers of having any nefarious motives, and it's entirely possible that scheduling just worked out that Zac was able to appear in the episode with the highest stakes ahead of the finale. That said, I can also see where fans are coming from in their reactions to Zac's appearance, Dylan's advancement, and Whitney's elimination. Take a look at just some from X (edited for clarity):

• @gerawaycar: "ZAC EFRON IS RIGGING THE ELECTION RIGHT NOW. STOP THE COUNT."
• @dyanilzavala: "Please don’t send [Dylan] home on Zac Efron night! PLEASE, Zac never leaves his house."
• @cleanrings: "I really think if Zac Efron didn’t show up, Dylan would’ve gone home instead of Whitney."
• @_samepaige_: "Zac did the bare minimum and single-handedly kicked Whitney out of that final and secured it for Dylan. I have to laugh."
• @CarolynBurt_: "I WAS EATING POPCORN AND ACTUALLY THREW IT ACROSS THE ROOM OUT OF SHOCK WHEN I SAW ZAC EFRON IN THE DANCING WITH THE STARS AUDIENCE."

Will Dylan Efron's momentum – whatever the cause – follow him into the finale next week? The competition is stiff now that he's a finalist, as he'll be up against Jordan Chiles with pro partner Ezra Sosa, Alix Earle with Val Chmerkovskiy, Elaine Hendrix with Alan Bersten, and Robert Irwin with Witney Carson. Find out who comes out on top and takes home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy with Dancing with the Stars' Season 34 finale on Tuesday, 25 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.

Ever since leaving The Vampire Diaries in 2015, Nina Dobrev has kept herself busy with streaming movies and shows, like being part of the cast of Netflix’s Love Hard and the platform's The Outlaws. As for the Canadian actress’s personal life, her engagement to Olympic gold medalist Shaun White came to a halt when the two split up in September 2025. After vacation photos with her and single man Zac Efron went viral, an insider drops claims of what’s allegedly going on between the two.

Recently, Zac Efron and Nina Dobrev were shown to be spending a lot of vacation time together. According to US Magazine, photos surfaced of the A-listers attending Brad Garlinghouse's wedding in September. Then last week, Deuxmoi shared photos of the two being all smiles with each other on a yacht. On September 18, the Daily Mail published pics of the two stars swimming off the Italian coastline.

If you’re curious what’s actually happening between the pair, an insider dropped claims to the publication on what’s reportedly going on:

It’s nice to know that the two allegedly have a good friendship going on. As these photos have circulated not long after Nina Dobrev and Shaun White’s split, it could be that the Vampire Diaries alum is reportedly looking for a good time with fun friends.

One thing the viral photos have in common is that the duo wasn't always posing alone. They've been featured alongside their friends Chase Crawford, as well as Keleigh and Miles Teller, while on these vacations. The same insider said that the Bulgarian-born actress has allegedly “been leaning on her family and friends recently” since her five-year relationship with Shaun White ended.

The source continued to talk about how these vacations with friends have reportedly been affecting the talented star post-breakup:

As a source told US on September 15th about how allegedly “devastated” Nina Dobrev was that things didn’t work out between her and her fiancée, it’s nice to know she’s got people “lifting her spirits” as the allegations say. With on-location outings and laughter to follow, this is definitely the medicine you need after a breakup.

So far, nothing has been confirmed or denied by Nina Dobrev or Zac Efron on whether or not they’re an item.

Lately, Zac Efron has been living the bachelor style. His most recent relationship was when he dated Vanessa Valladares in 2020. However, the two broke up a year later, and he’s been single ever since. While it seems like the High School Musical actor has been focusing on his film career with his upcoming A24 movie Famous and filming for his comedy flick Judgment Day, hopefully love will find its way to Efron’s heart soon.

Sources claim that despite the sweet vacation photos of the two, Nina Dobrev and Zac Efron are allegedly just friends. As the actress is reportedly seeking out feel-good moments with friends after her engagement breakup, I’m glad the People’s Choice Award winner is surrounding herself with good company.

Fall shows are hitting the 2025 TV schedule, and Dancing with the Stars kicked off a flashy Season 34 this week. And thanks to contestants like wildlife conservationistRobert Irwin, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and reality newbie (and Zac Efron’s brother), Dylan Efron, to name a few, it was lots of fun. However, as the younger Efron continues to shed being just "Zac's brother," I'm now wondering if we can expect a High School Musical homage this season? Well, the DWTS cast member teased the possibility.

The first episode of DWTS showcased each new pair with a hand-chosen song and choreographed dance that represented them. Efron and his teammate, DWTS champion Daniella Karagach, wowed the crowd with Kelis’ “Milkshake.” After the episode, the duo was asked by Page Six about the possibility of honoring the still lovable HSM movies through their song choices later in the season. The Traitors winner didn’t promise anything, though, saying:

It’s certainly not a no, especially with Disney Night around the corner on October 3! But also, it's not a yes, so we’ll just have to continue to wait and see if we get a Troy Bolton-inspired number. However, considering another DWTS pro, Britt Stewart, was a principal dancer on the Kenny Ortega movies, it kind of feels like the stars are aligning for some kind of High School Musical-inspired dance. She's not Efron's partner, though...so...that leaves us continuing to wonder.

To that point, Karagach jumped in to confirm that their rehearsal plans will remain under lock and key, at least until they share it on social media or perform the number live, as she said:

It’s completely fair, I suppose. If they are doing a dance to a High School Musical track, it would be better as a surprise to audiences. And if they do, it may help affirm Season 33 winner Joey Graziadei’s prediction of Efron and Karagach winning Season 34 (or at the very least, confirm a place near the top of the list).

The Great Global Cleanup alum taunted crowds even more by sharing he thinks that the Baywatch star would be happy about a potential HSM dance (Zac Efron still speaks fondly about High School Musical), saying:

I’m sure [Zac] would be stoked.

If that’s not a carrot dangling in front of a horse, I don’t know what is. It feels very on par with when HSM’s two leads–Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens–randomly visited the real East High in 2022, and fans thought they’d be cameoing in the new franchise. Regardless of who’s pleased about it, family or beyond, let’s just hope that Dylan Efron’s avoidant answer doesn’t have the same fate. Fingers crossed!

For now, fans of the Efron family, myself included, will have to wait and see if Dylan does have a Zac and/or High School Musical tribute in store. And in the meantime, I'll be thinking about what he could dance to -- personally, I'm hoping for a routine to a song like "We're All in this Together" or maybe "Bet On It."

Now, to catch Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, you can watch it on ABC or stream it with a Disney+ subscription on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Here’s hoping that Dyaln Efron keeps his head in the game long enough that he can surprise us with a Wildcats number.

Dancing with the Stars arrives on ABC for Season 34 in the 2025 TV schedule on September 16, and The Traitors vet (and High School Musical's Zac Efron's younger brother) Dylan Efron is among the celebrities vying for the Len Goodman mirrorball trophy this fall. Ahead of his first outing on the dance floor, Efron opened up about his mom's dream for her son on the show... although Dylan isn't the son she originally envisioned!

Dylan Efron is paired with former DWTS champion Daniella Karagach as his pro partner for Season 34, and he weighed in on his family coming to watch him strut his stuff in front of the judges, telling People:

Honestly, Dylan Efron's mom starting to dream of one of her sons going on DWTS two decades ago makes sense! Zac Efron had worked on a number of TV shows early in his career, but hit it big in the first High School Musical film in 2006, followed by High School Musical 2 in 2007 and High School Musical 3: Senior Year on the big screen in 2008.

It's also not unprecedented for DWTS to cast celebrities who already have some dance experience, including Dirty Dancing's Jennifer Grey in Season 11, Olympic ice dance gold medalist Meryl Davis in Season 18, and Dance Moms' JoJo Siwa in Season 30, to name a few. The HSM star could have made sense as a contestant.

Alas, Zac and Dylan's mom didn't get her wish twenty years ago, even when her eldest son returned to dance-filled movie musicals with Hairspray and The Greatest Showman. Apparently, all she needed to do was wait for Zac's younger brother to be ready for Dancing with the Stars.

While it remains to be seen if Dylan Efron can adapt to dancing in front of an audience as well as Zac did, he has a strong partner in Daniella Karagach. She helped very tall NBA star Iman Shumpert win Season 30, and came in second with Jason Mraz for Season 32. Bachelor Nation alum Joey Graziadei, who won Season 33 with pro partner Jenna Johnson, predicted that Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach could win it all in Season 34.

Of course, dance skills are only part of the battle in Dancing with the Stars, as being the most talented celebrity doesn't necessarily mean winning the mirrorball trophy. Once audience votes are tallied, the fates of the duos lie with who fans from home liked the most. Getting a 10 from a judge doesn't mean much if a celebrity isn't popular with viewers!

Dylan Efron is competing against:

• The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Jen Affleck with partner Jan Ravnik
• Author and wellness influencer Hilaria Baldwin and partner Gleb Savchenko
• Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles with partner Ezra Sosa
• NBA All-Star Baron Davis with partner Britt Stewart
• Social media personality Alix Earle with partner Val Chmerkovskiy,
• Actor and musician Corey Feldman with partner Jenna Johnson
• Boys Meets World alum star Danielle Fishel with partner Pasha Pashkov
• Actress Elaine Hendrix with partner Alan Bersten
• Pentatonix Grammy winner Scott Hoying with partner Rylee Arnold
• Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin with partner Witney Carson
• Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui with partner Brandon Armstrong
• The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Whitney Leavitt with partner Mark Ballas
• Comedian Andy Richter with partner Emma Slater.

Tune in to ABC or stream with a Disney+ subscription on Tuesday, September 16 at 8 p.m. ET for the Season 34 premiere of Dancing with the Stars, and see for yourself if Dylan Efron does indeed tear up with the support of his family. New episodes will also be available streaming next day with a Hulu subscription.

Dave Franco is having a body horror moment on the 2025 movie schedule. As the twisted delights of Together are about to blow some minds, and empty some stomachs, the upcoming horror movie sees Franco and wife Allison Brie get pretty close. With a resume such as his, the Neighbors star probably has stories to tell on all sorts of on-set shenanigans, as seen in his story about how Zac Efron actually hurt himself during a crotch grabbing showdown in that 2014 comedy.

During an appearance on Call Her Daddy, host Alex Cooper asked for some clarification on a story where the High School Musical alum alleged he’d broken his hand while hilarious movie about college life. Dave Franco corrected the record swiftly, offering this explanation for what really happened:

If you have a Netflix subscription and suddenly see Neighbors in the top 10 movies being streamed on the platform, this could be one of the reasons why that result may be on display. Though if you’re curious why frat brothers Teddy (Zac Efron) and Pete (Dave Franco) are getting into such a form of combat, you’ll have to watch the film for yourself.

However, you can read Mr. Franco’s description of how this scene played out, as follows:

It’s a bit weird reading a description of this sort of thing, isn’t it? I mean it doesn't have the same shock value as, say, Dave Franco's surprisingly good Robert De Niro impression. Don’t worry, as there’s a YouTube clip from Neighbors (retitled Bad Neighbors in some territories) showing this handful of chaos in action:

Is it just me, or does the whole black light atmosphere add to the comedy going on here? I don’t know why, but it certainly doesn’t hurt when watching Zac Efron and Dave Franco busting each other’s balls for a laugh. Or at least, observing them go as hard as one can with a cup present in that setting.

Neighbors is currently streaming on Netflix, while Together presents bodily harm of a much graver sort starting on July 31st. Without having seen that new horror show myself, I fear the possibilities of one-upping this story with some grotesque material. So needless to say, I need to see this twisted romance at once!

It’s no longer a secret that Zac and Dylan Efron have some great family genes, as evidenced earlier on in the 2025 TV schedule when Dylan joined Season 3 of The Traitors. Now that he's no longer only recognized as just 'Zac's brother,' both siblings have their established platforms to join their notable looks. Speaking of, this mesmerizing ab-filled clip of the Efron bros playing golf proves why both have skin in the (good-looking) game.

The brotherly day on the greens was posted jointly by the two to their Instagram’s with the simple caption of ‘Sticks.’ While the video of their game is pretty straightforward, the take away is clearly the handsome shirtless brothers. And the course they were playing on seems just as gorgeous (and a little reminiscent of High School Musical 2). Without further ado, here are the Efron’s tearing it up golfing:

Am I not alone in letting it play a few times over? I hope so! I thought I might have been watching a full 18-hole competion, but no, it was just a few seconds of a single clip playing over and over and over again, without a lick of complaining from anyone present. Okay, so maybe that didn't actually happen quite like that, and maybe I knew all along. But I'll never tell.

At the same time, I of course also enjoyed just catching a glimpse of their relationship, as they seem like they'd be. fun to hang around with. But the comments surely confirmed plenty of my initial thirsts and feelings watching the clip.

First, the amount of people referencing High School Musical 2’s “Bet On It,” was life-affirming. But, of course, people pulled up with all kinds of naughty thoughts, ranging from thanking their parents to questioning their previous opinions about golf. Here are a few of the highlights:

• So happy there’s not a limit on how many times Instagram allows me to replay a video. - tune2tunde
• What kind of a fever dream am I in 😅- tay_renaee
• Thank you Mr. And Mrs. Efron. So. Much. 👏😍- ash_wells
• My brain stopped working for a good 20 seconds - bravobuds
• Stop it. Golf isn’t supposed to be hot - itsme.lisap

The joint outing really is a hole-in-one affair. Before this post, we’ve seen proof that both brothers aren’t afraid to show off their bodies. Very recent examples for the sibs professional endeavors include Dylan's cheeky Old Navy ad and Zac’s on set Judgement Day pic, to name just two out of their personal catalog. But, as mentioned and reiterated throughout, plenty fans, like me are thankful to enjoy this boys day.

It’s a stellar addition after Dylan’s debut and win on Season 3 of The Traitors (available with a Peacock subscription) and Zac’s cameo on The Studio (via Apple TV subscription). What’s to come seems just as fun. The newbie seems to just be starting with brand deals and partnerships (a la the Old Navy ad). Meanwhile the Neighbors alum is working on the aforementioned new comedy Judgement Day with Will Ferrell and has bagged another a24 film, the thriller, Famous.

While we wait for their next professional efforts, or personal joint posts, the Efron’s golfing shirtless will suffice just fine. It’ll likely be looping continuously at the back of my mind for the rest of the day.

When it comes to actors having to be intimate with co-stars on-screen, It’s only natural that their spouses’ reactions would vary. Some understand that it’s part of the job, like Adam Sandler’s wife, who asked that he give Jennifer Aniston a “good time” when they kissed in Murder Mystery 2. Candace Cameron Bure’s husband, meanwhile, doesn’t like to watch her kiss scenes. It seems country singer Keith Urban may fall into that latter category, because he recently got asked about Nicole Kidman’s steamy sex scenes, and it did not end well.

Nicole Kidman is no stranger to a sex scene. In her decades as an actress, she’s played a number of characters who experience intimacy in different ways — including Holland on the 2025 movie calendar and steamy scenes in last year’s psychological thriller Babygirl and the age-gap romance A Family Affair with Zac Efron. But that doesn’t mean her husband wants to talk about it.

Keith Urban called into the radio show “Hayley & Max in the Morning,” Page Six reports, where host Max Burford said he wanted to ask a “deeply personal question,” and proceeded to inquire:

So how did the former American Idol judge respond? He literally exited the chat. A producer informed Max Burford and co-host Hayley Pearson that Keith Urban had “disconnected from Zoom.” He continued:

Oops.

Now, we don’t know exactly what went down here. Did Keith Urban end the call, or did his team make a pre-emptive move to avoid an uncomfortable subject? Was there a power outage? A sun spot? Somebody forgot to pay the Internet bill?

While it does sound like the quick exit was intentional, an insider told People that Urban did not end the call.

However, this might give a little more context to Nicole Kidman’s response to possibly working with Keith Urban on a show someday. When asked if that was something that interested the couple, the Oscar winner was quick to shut it down, saying that being “together in life” was enough for them.

It’ll be interesting to see if we hear more about the dropped call in coming days, but if Nicole Kidman’s husband is uncomfortable talking about her sex scenes, can anybody really blame him? We’re talking about a shirtless Zac Efron in a movie whose original title was Motherf------.

Not to mention, A Family Affair was nothing compared to Babygirl, where Nicole Kidman said she still blushes over her portrayal of different kinds of orgasms. There was an intimacy coordinator on Babygirl’s set, but the actress still said she got burned out and had to take a step back at one point because she didn’t “want to orgasm anymore.”

And you mean Keith Urban didn’t want to talk about that? Shocking.

If you want to see what all the fuss is about, you can check out A Family Affair with a Netflix subscription, while Babygirl is available to stream with a Max subscription.

Zac Efron has been famous since starring in the endlessly re-watchable High School Musical movies (which are streaming with a Disney+ subscription). But he's carved out a thriving film career as an adult, including the forthcoming comedy Judgement Day opposite Will Ferrell. The 37 year-old actor posted a bloody photo from the set, but I'm all about the comments section.

While it remains to be seen in Judgement Day becomes one of Will Ferrell's best movies, the strong cast is definitely getting folks hyped. Efron posted a photo dump on Instagram, which showed his character pretty roughed up from whatever happens in the movie. Check it out below:

Efron posted these images for his whopping 60.4 followers on Instagram, which is a mixture of fans and those who actually know the actor. While the images from the set offer a tease about what we should expect when Judgement Day is finally released, it's wild to see just how much the comments section has blown up... particularly from public figures we know and love.

What Zac Efron's Famous Friends Had To Say About The Bloody Pics

Efron has been working from a young age, so he's got lots of household names that he's friends and/or collaborators with. Many of them sounded off in the comments section of his recent photo dump, with some example being:

• dad with the Lorax stache! - Dylan Efron
• The affliction shirt goes hard @jimmy - Patrick Schwarzenegger
• HI BOYS - Zoey DeutchI don’t know what this is but I know I’ll be first in line to see it LETS GOOOOO!!!!🔥🔥🔥 - Bart Johnson (from High School Musical)
• Yassss - KayCee Troh (From High School Musical)

Of course, this is not including the countless thirsty comments that were left on this post by fans, many of whom are calling him some variation of daddy. Listen, the many has been a sex symbol for years now.

While fan are calling Efron Daddy, his onscreen father Bart Johnson is one of the top comments of his post. He's part of the High School Musical cast as Coach Bolton, and he's not the only franchise star to weigh in. KayCee Troh, who famously played Martha Cox, also sounded off in the comments.

Of course, fans of The Traitors (streaming with a Peacock subscription) will notice that fan favorite player/ Zac's brother Dylan Efron is one of the most popular comments. After winning the reality competition series he's got fans of his own, and they love seeing the two brothers interact on social media.

As always, Zac Efron looks ripped on the set of this forthcoming movie, which is likely part of the reason why so many of the comments are thirsty AF. And smart money says that'll help get more movies on the new comedy.

Judgement Day doesn't currently have a release date, so it's unclear if it'll make it onto the 2025 movie release list. But Zac Efron and Will Ferrell certainly sounds like a winning combination.

Today, Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron have impressive careers to stand on outside of what put them on the map. However, I'm consistently thinking about their High School Musical days. So, when a special throwback comes up that includes the actors behind Tory and Gabriella, the Disney Channel kid in me can’t help but celebrate. So, that's exactly what I'm doing after seeing Hudgens' latest Instagram story.

The new mom shared a clip of her song "Say OK" on her Instagram stories, and it includes the Baywatch actor. While the only comment on the story refers to the now dated hairstyle, the two of them are featured prominently in the footage. The fun heart-fluttering flashback originally came from velvetcoke’s IG post that featured many other top pop girls of the time. However, Hudgens intentionally sharing her video with Efron is too good, take a look at the story below:

Yes, the side-bang is very of the time, and sadly, this relationship is too. However, it's impossible not to look back on it all fondly. I must admit, growing up watching Hudgens and Efron on screen and in real life was a major pop culture moment for me and likely anyone who grew up with Disney Channel, and it's so nostalgic to see it now.

Honestly, Hudgens' post about this video of her and Efron in 2007 makes me think of all the fun they must have had on the still watchable High School Musical movies alongside the rest of the cast.

The movies, which can still be watched with a Disney+ subscription, truly catapulted both of the actors into the start of their careers, and their real-life romance was the talk of the town. However, in the years since they broke up, they don't really say anything about or do anything with each other. Regardless, their run together remains a pillar of Disney Channel kid pop culture royalty to me and many others.

Now that it’s been about 15 years since their breakup, we’ve seen both go on to many exciting endeavors.

For Efron, he’s been a pretty regular face on the big screen for years now. Last year, he had lead roles in Ricky Stanicky and A Family Affair, and the year before, he garnered critical acclaim for The Iron Claw. This year, he popped up on the 2025 TV schedule thanks to his guest role in The Studio.

Meanwhile, Hudgens welcomed her first baby with husband Cole Tucker last year (although they weren’t happy with paparazzi at the hospital). In addition to becoming a family of three, the actress and singer will start working on The Black Kaiser, which is based on a Dark Horse graphic novel entitled “Polar” by Victor Santos.

Overall, I love all of this for them, and I can't wait to see what they do next. However, while it’s been a long while since my Disney Channel days, that kid in me will always perk up when one of them mentions their truly iconic run together in the 2000s and 2010s.

Spoilers ahead for The Traitors Season 3.

The Traitors is arguably one of the best reality shows on TV, and is certainly one of the most popular competition series. Those with a Peacock subscription were recently treated to the third season of the US version, which features a cast full of reality TV icons. The Traitors Season 3 cast included Dylan Efron, who recently spoke about the reception to his gameplay, and no longer just being "Zac's brother."

Prior to The Traitors, Dylan Efron was primarily known for appearing alongside his actor brother in Down to Earth with Zac Efron (streaming with a Netflix subscription). Zac Efron caught some strays at the Round Tale courtesy of Bob the Drag Queen, but in a clip from Radio Andy, Dylan spoke about how he's been embraced thanks to the show. In his words:

That's true. While there's strategic gameplay and Alan Cumming's wild accent, The Traitors is ultimately a reality show where the contestants aren't playing characters. Dylan has become a bonafide heartthrob, while also getting flowers for his voting history and eventual victory on the show.

Later in the same interview, Dylan Efron spoke about how folks began to embrace him outside of his connection to his famous actor brother. As he put it:

Indeed, Dylan Efron is one of the biggest breakaway stars from Season 3, alongside Bachelor alum Gabby Windey. Both of them ended up winning the season, although they'll have to split the prize money four ways. Still, I have to assume that both Efron and Widney will be getting some exciting offers to return the screen soon.

The Traitors Season 3 is now streaming in its entirety on Peacock as part of the 2025 TV list. And for those eager for more murder, a new season of the UK version was just dropped.

Something that can be easy to forget about as we all enjoy the new episodes of television currently airing on the 2025 TV schedule is how important all of those guest starring roles are to the actors who play them. In fact, it’s not uncommon for actors to get their start by playing small parts on TV, and big stars from Jennifer Lopez to Timothèe Chalamet have done just that. Speaking of Chalamet, he was recently among the celebs who took a drink at the SAG Awards because of a before-fame appearance in the Law & Order franchise, but the also long-running NCIS has had its share of major talent guest-star, as well.

Which Celebs Should Take A Drink For Appearing On NCIS?

Before you ask why this has to be a drinking game, you should know that I’m just following the path set forth by the wonderful Keke Palmer. She presented at the SAG Awards in late February and announced that she’d come up with a drinking game for those in attendance, with her asking everyone to take a drink if they’d ever appeared on Law & Order.

Not only did Timothèe Chalamet respond by taking a swig, but so did Elle Fanning, new 2025 Oscar winner Zoe Saldaña and co-presenters Palmer and 2024 and 2025 Oscar nominee Colman Domingo.

As one might imagine, though, the NCIS franchise (which celebrated its 1,000th episode in April 2024) is also no slouch when it comes to snagging up and coming or established talent to fill its many guest starring roles. The OG series started in 2003 and has already spawned five spinoffs (with a sixth, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, premiering in the near-ish future), so there have been hundreds if not thousands of smaller parts to cast over the course of 22 years. And, a number of celebrities have filled the NCIS ranks, with some of them netting their part before they were famous.

For instance? Well, Twisters star Glen Powell stepped up to play a Marine in Season 10, Episodes 6 and 7. Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown appeared in the sixth episode of Season 12, while This Is Us and Paradise actor Sterling K. Brown had an important part in Season 11, Episode 10 in December 2013, and The Iron Claw lead Zac Efron showed up in the thirteenth episode of the third season, which aired mere days before High School Musical premiered and made him a superstar.

Other famous folk have also popped up on the franchise, including Lily Tomlin, Drew Carey, Jamie Lee Curtis and even Michelle Obama. So, all of this is to say that we can never discount the guest roles on our favorite shows, because you just never know who you might see.

John Cena may have the build of an action hero, and he’s played one plenty of times. However, the guy has natural comedic timing that cannot be undersold. Cena is incredibly funny on screen and has the credits to prove it. And it really becomes clear just how funny he really is when he trolls a couple of co-stars who clearly have no idea what a “guilty pleasure” movie is.

Last year, John Cena starred in the R-rated comedy film Ricky Stanicky, which critics had a lot of thoughts on. I haven’t actually seen the film but, if it’s half as funny as this interaction I just found on Twitter between Cena, Zac Efron, and other members of the cast, I’m going to need to check it out. When asked what their “guilty pleasure” movie is, Efron and Jermaine Fowler shared answers that indicate they clearly don’t understand the term. That's what led Cena to show them what's what -- and in the most hilarious way possible:

John Cena gets it. Efron and his co-star seem to think that being being an adult and liking a movie “meant for kids" indicates guilty pleasure status. There’s really nothing guilty about liking a movie that is generally seen as being good, whether or not it's animated. Finding Nemo is one of Pixar's best films and has a 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s nobody’s guilty pleasure. It's just a pleasure.

The Emperor’s New Groove certainly isn’t quite as widely praised. It may be seen as an underrated Disney movie, but nobody would think you’re completely out of line if you say you like it. A “guilty pleasure” is a movie that you feel at least a little embarrassed admitting you like. Being a fan of the admittedly campy Highlander isn't a guilty pleasure. Being a fan of the trainwreck that is Highlander 2: The Quickening, that's another story entirely.

It’s a movie that’s generally seen as awful, but that you like for some reason, which may or may not make any sense to other people. Or, in John Cena’s case, it's actual porn.

John Cena drops Behind the Green Door as a “guilty pleasure” and then waits for people to get the joke. Being only three months younger than Cena myself, and also happening to be from the same hometown as the Mitchell Brothers who directed the movie, I laughed out loud when he said this. Then I cried a little when I realized these much younger actors didn’t even get it.

To be fair, alongside Deep Throat, which was released the same year, Behind the Green Door is considered a classic of the genre and received a comparatively wide theatrical release for an adult movie. A lot of people saw Behind the Green Door back in 1972. Few of them likely talked about that at the time but, then, that’s exactly what makes it a guilty pleasure.

As you ponder over your own guilty pleasures, be sure to stream Ricky Stanicky using a Prime Video subscription.

In just a few short years, The Traitors has established itself as one of the best reality shows on the air. The campy competition series (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription) has had some truly iconic moments during Season 3, including when Zac Efron caught some strays by Bob The Drag Queen at the Round Table. And now we now which of the actor's movies the Drag Race winner was referencing when saying Efron wasn't a good actor.

While some fans are still figuring out how to watch The Traitors Season 3, I'm recovering with the twists, turns, and viral moments that have come out of the new season. Bob The Drag Queen's shade at Zac Efron is high up on that list, and when speaking with EW about the show, he revealed that he'd only previously seen High School Musical and Baywatch before making those comments. The We're Here star clarified his feelings for Efron, offering:

Biting is one word for this iconic exchange, which went viral online shortly after the episode aired. Although if he was judging Efron's talent by those two projects in particularly, it might be understandable that Bob doesn't think Zac is the Meryl Streep of his generation.

There's seemingly no hard feelings between Bob The Drag Queen and Dylan Efron, who have posted social media content together after the episode where Zac was roped into The Traitors. Later in the same interview, Bob spoke about the 37 year-old's more recent movie roles, offering:

Indeed, The Iron Claw got a ton of praise upon its release, especially for the performances given by both Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White. While he might not have gotten an Academy Award nomination for his performance, it shows how far he's come from his days playing Troy Bolton in the High School Musical franchise (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription).

While Bob The Drag Queen was the first Traitor voted off this season, his influence is still being felt. We'll just have to wait and see how many more times the RuPaul's Drag Race fan favorite gets name dropped throughout the rest of the season.

The third season of the U.S. version of The Traitors has been at the top of my 2025 TV schedule priorities. So far, this season has consistently baffled and stunned viewers like myself, as the Alan Cummings-hosted show delivers jaw-dropping moments with each episode. Now, a TikTok user has one of my favorite takes on a Season 3 moment. And you likely won't be surprised to know Bob The Drag Queen and Zac Efron are linked to it.

Peacock subscription holders have seen the Traitors Season 3 cast continue to prove that while this streaming original is batty, it’s one of the best reality shows right now. A key moment that really lends credibility to that is the initial showdown between Bob The Drag Queen and Zac Efron’s younger brother, Dylan, at the infamous round table. The 32-year-old shared that he thought BTDQ would make a great traitor because of his impressive acting abilities.

Dylan Efron noted that he knew how actors act because of his older brother, Zac. The RuPaul’s Drag Race alum clapped back, saying that the younger Efron wouldn’t know acting all that well because his older brother isn’t very good. Now, a TikTok user named hshawyer has brought up an important counterpoint to the We’re Here alum’s opinion about Zac’s abilities. The video below throws it back to the iconic franchise that launched the fan-favorite actor’s career:

While I’ll always be rooting for Bob The Drag Queen, the Efron comment surprised me, although it did seem like it was an in-the-moment reaction. I'd like to think that if BTDQ saw this video, he’d have a good laugh and reconsider. After all, the Iron Claw alum has taken on plenty of diverse and interesting projects across multiple genres.

And, even though many of his performances have been met with varied opinions, Zac Efron has continued to hold his own in Hollywood. Let’s not forget, as noted by this TikToker, Efron's breakthrough film series, High School Musical, established him as a triple threat -- someone who could act, dance and sing. Personally, I’d kill for a lip-sync battle between Efron and Bob The Drag Queen to settle these comments once and for all. That aside, kudos to hshawyer for sharing this awesome take.

What I did love about that face-off was that the Doctor Odysessy actor’s drag name for the Great Global Clean Up alum–Miss Guided. Additionally, I appreciate that Dylan Efron has already added it to his Instagram profile. Oddly enough, I thought this was going to be the most sloppy Traitors play but soon found out, it was just the tip of the iceberg for the actual Traitors crew.

As fans near Episode 7, it feels like the show has already been through a few mini-seasons, and it's in large part due to the remaining trio of traitors. It's been absolutely bonkers, given Tom Sandoval’s many theories, Boston Rob's reality TV return and tear through Ardross Castle and two-thirds of the Bambis and more. While I must sometimes gather myself due to the continued onslaught of chaos, I can't look away, even though I can't get over that weird confessional filter.

With the cast of The Traitors continuing to show off different sides of themselves, I'm hopeful that more TikTokers share great takes that spark discussions on social media. As for now, this Bob The Drag Queen and Zac Efron comment ranks at the top of the list for me. With all that in mind, do yourself a favor and check out new episodes of the show when they hit Peacock on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.

After catching strays during The Traitors’ roundtable, Zac Efron is ready to prove that he’s a good actor once and for all. The High School Musical icon is once again partnering with Prime Video for an untitled comedy project where he’ll star opposite Saturday Night Live legend Will Ferrell. Judging by the premise, I’m predicting that Ferrell won’t be the only big star appearing in the movie.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Efron will star as a young convict who is fresh out of prison. Instead of choosing to make good on his newfound freedom, the convict decides to seek revenge on the reality TV judge, played by Ferrell, whose conviction put him behind bars. As if that’s not bad enough, Efron’s character manages to take a reality TV courtroom hostage in the process.

Reality TV court shows have been a staple on daytime television for decades, and with Amazon Freevee’s Jury Duty becoming an Emmy Award-nominated comedy show, it’s no surprise that the streaming site wants to dabble in the world once again. With such an open premise, there’s also a chance that the untitled Efron-Ferrell project will be able to poke fun at the real-life TV judges that generations grew up watching — like Judge Judy.

While nothing has been confirmed beyond Efron and Ferrell’s casting, it’s easy to wonder if television's most famous judge, Judy Sheindlin, will appear in the comedy. I can think of a couple of ways Sheindlin could show up, and they all could lead to some hilarious situations.

For starters, Sheindlin could appear as her infamous television persona, Judge Judy. Perhaps Efron’s character breaks into the wrong courtroom while searching for Ferrell’s character and finds himself making a scene in Judge Judy’s presence. If you’ve ever watched her courtroom series, which ran for 25 years, you’ll know that Judy didn't put up with any nonsense, meaning Efron’s convict character could find himself in even more trouble or be on the receiving end of one of Judy’s insults.

Though Sheindlin has never appeared on television as anything other than “Judge Judy,” it would be hilarious if she just happened to be an audience member in Ferrell’s televised courtroom. There could even be a moment where she criticizes him as a way to subtly call out her time as a TV judge.

If they can’t get Sheindlin, there are plenty of other television judges to choose from that would add a hilarious, meta cameo to the film. But even if that doesn’t happen, I’m sure the Efron and Ferrell-led film is going to be one of Prime Video’s best comedies.

After all, it’s being penned and directed by Nicholas Stroller, who just worked with Ferrell in the comedy You’re Cordially Invited, which you can stream now with an active Prime Video subscription. Plus, Efron has proven he’s a talented comedy actor over and over again, most recently in Ricky Stanicky for the same streaming service.

With the project still untitled, it’s unlikely that the film will be finished in time for the 2025 movie schedule. Thankfully, there are plenty of other great Prime Video films to hold you over until then.

As a millennial theater kid, High School Musical was a specifically beloved part of my childhood. The High School Musical cast has remained synonymous with the franchise (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription), despite having grown up and even having kids themselves. Case in point: that time Ashley Tisdale’s young daughter thought Zac Efron was her father while watching HSM.

Throughout the High School Musical movies, Tisdale's Sharpay lusts after Efron's Troy, in hopes they will have a romantic and creative connection. Having a child together was probably on the character's vision board, which is why the story that Ashley Tisdale told on the Breaking Beauty Podcast is extra funny. As she shared:

How cute is that? Kids say the darndest things, and one can only imagine Tisdale's reaction to her young daughter thinking that her father and a young Zac Efron were the same a person. And now suddenly I want a new HSM movie where the students from East High are parents. Singing parents.

While there's no indication that another High School Musical movie is coming together, some of the original cast reunited for the HSM TV series on Disney+. Unfortunately for the OG fandom, Ashley Tisdale, Zac Efron, and Vanessa Hudgens did not end up signing on to appear throughout the show's run on the streaming service. Although their characters were referenced, with Sharpay being a Goop-like CEO, and Troy and Gabriella apparently in couple's therapy. Ouch.

The success of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (yes that was the real title) showed that the franchise still has staying power, despite the audience being too young to have seen the original trilogy of films (plus the Sharpay spinoff) in real time.

It's been funny to see the legacy of HSM develop throughout the years. The musical numbers have aged quite well, and there are some fans who have maintained that Sharpay Evans was actually the hero of the story, rather than the antagonist. Only time will tell if this ongoing discourse will eventually inspire actors like Ashley Tisdale and Zac Efron to finally step into those iconic roles. For now I'll be re-streaming the movies and their music while I hold out hope.

The High School Musical franchise is streaming on Disney+. Check out the 2025 movie release dates to plan your film experiences this year.

Spoilers ahead for the most recent episode of The Traitors.

In just a few short years on the air, The Traitors has quickly become one of the best reality shows on the air. The competition series (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription) is so popular partly thanks to its wild casts full of reality TV legends.This season's Traitors cast list includes Dylan Efron, and during the most recent episode Zac Efron caught some strays at the round table. And the internet is all over this drama.

While some fans are figuring out how to watch The Traitors Season 3, hardcore fans are still recovering from Episode 4. At round the roundtable, Drag Race winner Bob The Drag Queen was fending off accusations from both Dylan and Boston Rob. During this confrontation Efron said that he grew up with an actor, to which Bob said "not a good one." This spicy clapback is making its rounds on Twitter, you can check it out below:

The reaction to this moment of shade has been mixed online. Some folks loved the drama of it all, while others took umbrage with the High School Musical icon being criticized. But with Dylan being primarily known for Down to Earth with Zac Efron, (which is steaming with a Netflix subscription), eventually his famous brother was probably going to be mentioned.

One response to Bob's epic shade defended the 37 year-old actor, reading:

Conversely, some fans thought it was a truly epic read of Efron's work, and loved how explosive the roundtable already has been in Season 3. You can see a funny meme reaction below:

On the other side of the coin, some felt defensive about Zac Efron-- especially fans who grew up with him starting with High School Musical. Combine that with the Traitors murdering two Housewives in a row, and Bob has been taking some flak online. Another funny tweet reads:

There were even some defenders of Zac from within the Traitors cast list. After the Roundtable, Real Housewives of New Jersey fan favorite Dolores Catania immediately defended the actor saying "Good Job Dylan! And Listen-- your brother's a good actor." This is another reason why Bob's comment has gone so viral, with a Housewives fan tweeting out a video of Catania's dropping the C-word on RHONJ as a funny (but NSFFW) reaction to the situation.

Bob throwing shade at Zac Efron's talents has been arguably the spiciest moment of the Roundtable so far in Season 3, so the memes and reactions just keep rolling in. Another one used a meme from That's So Raven to share their feelings, check it out below:

Not one to be left out of the fun, Bob The Drag Queen posted on Twitter about the Zac Efron comment. The comment reads:

Clearly The Traitors Season 3 is going to be another wild season of television. There's a reason why the show is so popular, and why it became an Emmy-winning success. The cast, gameplay, and host are all firing on all cylinders, and it's still early in the season. We'll just have to see what viral moments come up at the Roundtable in future episodes.

The Traitors airs new episodes Thursdays on Peacock. For now, check out the 2025 movie release dates.

If you grew up in the 2000s like I did, then you know there will never be a movie franchise quite like High School Musical. Disney tried more than once to recreate the magic the trilogy held, but nothing could ever match the chemistry this cast shared. This classic Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) now evokes pure childhood nostalgia for fans, and it turns out Zac Efron’s HSM co-star remembers it, and the number "Get’cha Head in the Game" specifically, just as fondly as we do.

For anyone wondering what it was like to grow up on a fake high school movie set, it was fairly similar to the real deal. In fact, Chris Warren, who played Zeke, the lovable basketball player turned chef, told People he considers HSM his “high school experience.” He also revealed that he and the Family Affair actor bonded early on over their athletic abilities and lack of dance skills when it came to filming the standout number “Get’cha Head in the Game.” However, knowing the game better than the moves proved to be helpful, as the actor explained:

It is quite funny that most of the actors struggled with dribbling the most given that it’s probably the least complex part of the entire number.

On that note, the Baywatch actor has previously said he remembers being shocked they managed to get a usable take of that sequence specifically, given the difficulty of combining the choreography with basketball skills. However, I’m sure it would have taken much longer without these two actors helping their teammates behind the scenes.

At least Zac Efron could shoot a basketball. He certainly wasn’t cast for his dancing or singing abilities, given it’s actually Drew Seeley’s voice singing hits like “Breaking Free” in the first movie.

However, it’s evident that Efron’s strength as a leading man was well worth the initial lack of theater skills. His stellar performance as the secretly sensitive high school heartthrob Troy Bolton is one of the strongest takeaways of the DCOM series. He obviously went on to do bigger things than HSM, but at the time, the absence of “Hollywood polish” was part of the reason he appealed to the casting producers.

While the Greatest Showman actor picked up the singing and dancing quickly, it definitely made him a bit of an outsider at first. So I imagine Efron felt similarly to Warren, who says it was nice to have a buddy on set with a similar industry background and shared hobbies:

The pair became close friends throughout the course of filming, and I’d be curious to find out if they are still in touch. Neither actor returned for the High School Musical 4: The Reunion in Disney+’s original show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, although leads Vanessa Hudgens and Efron have (separately) visited the now famous school in Utah in recent years. So, there is hope for a full reunion yet. The Iron Claw actor has previously expressed interest in reprising his role as Troy Bolton, and something tells me he and the Sistas actor would be happy to work together again.

For anyone wanting a healthy dose of 2000s nostalgia, you can sing along to Kenny Ortega’s greatest hits -- including "Get’cha Head in the Game" -- by streaming all three High School Musical movies with a Disney+ subscription.

Great actors don't need a lot of makeup or total body transformations to improve their performance, but when you get the combination of a great and those things, the effect can be amazing. Sometimes the effect is so good the actors become completely unrecognizable, like the examples in this list where actors like Jared Leto and Gary Oldman were completely transformed for roles.

Jared Leto - House Of Gucci

It's fair to say that House Of Gucci was, at best, an uneven movie. It was a daunting challenge for everyone involved and none more so than Jared Leto. Leto played the legendary Paolo Gucci, and while his accent was a little shaky, his look and his mannerisms were completely on point. It's one heck of a transformation.

Charlize Theron - Monster

There is no more intense transformation for a role than Charlize Theron's performance as real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster. Theron completely embodies the monster that Wuoronos was, while also subtly allowing the audience to understand how the killer became the way she was. Theron rightfully won an Academy Award for her portrayal of the brutal murderer.

Christian Bale - Vice

Christian Bale is one of the best actors of his generation and he's never been afraid to alter his look for a performance. The Machinist is one excellent example, but even that transformation pales in comparison to the way he completely became Dick Cheney in Vice. Not only does he look just like the former vice president, but he nails his speech pattern and mannerisms as well. It's remarkable.

Lily James - Pam & Tommy

When Lily James was cast as Pamela Anderson in Pam & Tommy it raised a few eyebrows. The actress seemed like a complete opposite in every way, especially her looks, as the blonde bombshell. Yet, when the movie came out, people were amazed at how well James pulled it off. No, it's not the best movie, but James was the spitting image of Anderson.

Gary Oldman - True Romance

One actor who is truly a master of disguise is Gary Oldman. He seemingly looks completely different in almost every role he plays. One of the most astounding transformations was early in his career when he played a pimp in True Romance. He literally looks and sounds nothing like himself in the film, to the point where if you didn't know it was him, you'd never guess.

Jessica Chastain - The Eyes of Tammy Faye

You know when a film wins the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Best Actress, the role is going to be special. Such is the case for Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Chastain is completely unrecognizable in the role of the wife of the infamous Jim Bakker and is simply incredible in the movie.

Margot Robbie - I, Tonya

Turning Margot Robbie into a street tough figure skater like Tonya Harding is no easy feet. Through a combination of incredible makeup work and even better acting, Robbie completely disappears into the notorious skater made famous for her part in attacking her rival Nancy Kerrigan before the 1994 Olympics.

Glenn Close - Hook

Steven Spielberg's 1991 Hook isn't generally remembered as the legendary director's best work, but it is chock full of fun cameos and one of the hardest to spot is Glenn Close. The actress plays one of the pirates on Captain Hook's ship and if you don't look closely, you'll never notice the multiple Oscar nominee under the beard and makeup turning her into a male pirate.

Tilda Swinton - Trainwreck

The most remarkable thing about Tilda Swinton's transformation in the rom-com Trainwreck is just how conventional she looks. Swinton has one of the most unique looks in Hollywood and most of the time that look is enhanced by the roles she plays, it's part of what makes her so great. Her "normal" look in Trainwreck is made remarkable by that,

Mike Myers - Bohemian Rhapsody

Mike Myers took a long hiatus from acting in the 2010s and when he returned in Bohemian Rhapsody, audiences had to do a triple-check to make sure it was him in the role of a record executive arguing with Queen about the song that the movie is named after. With sunglasses and a full blonde beard, Myers looked nothing like his normal sense and his performance was excellent.

Colin Farrell - The Batman/The Penguin

When the trailer first dropped for The Batman, people were astounded at how Colin Farrell looked as Penguin. When the movie came out and we all watched his performance, it was even more shocking (in a great way). When he took the role to HBO for the TV show named after the character, we were all completely lost in it, because he was just so great. Though he says the suit and makeup aren't worth it, we have a feeling he'll be back as the Gotham-based villain.

50 Cent - All Things Fall Apart

50 Cent has proven to be quite the actor. The rapper has branched out into producing, even. Perhaps his best performance was as the fallen football star in All Things Fall Apart. His body transformation to play a pro athlete in peak physical condition who falls victim to cancer is incredible

Sarah Paulson - Impeachment: American Crime Story

Sarah Paulson knows how to completely disappear into a role. She was as incredible as Marsha Clark in The People Vs. OJ Simpson and she was even more remarkable as Linda Tripp in Impeachment: American Crime Story. Seriously, if you didn't know it was her, you'd never guess. She looks more like Tripp than Paulson in every way.

Billy Bob Thornton In U-Turn

Billy Bob Thorton is one of the most fun actors to watch in everything he is in. Take, for example, his role in Sling Blade, in which he looks completely different from himself. Another fine example is as the mechanic in U-Turn with Sean Penn. If it wasn't for his distinctive voice, you'd never know it was him.

Eddie Murphy - Coming To America

For a while there, Eddie Murphy made it his job to look completely different in his movies like The Nutty Professor, but at no point in any of those movies did he transform quite like he did to play the Jewish guy who hung out in the barbershop in Coming To America. Even his role as the barber in the movie was more recognizable. We also have to give props to Arsenio Hall for his various roles in the movie as well.

Mia Goth - X

Mia Goth playing the elderly Pearl in X is fantastic. Though you can tell it's her as Maxine, if you just walked in on the movie as those scenes of her as the older Pearl was playing, you'd never know who it is.

Tom Hardy - Bronson

Tom Hardy has never been shy about taking on challenging roles that require him to transform completely. He changes so much, that you almost feel like you don't know what he actually looks like in real life. Bronson is one of his finest transformations as he looks way more like the notorious British prisoner than like himself in the movie. It's so much more than just a mustache, that's for sure.

Donnie Wahlberg - The Sixth Sense

Mark Wahlberg may be the more famous brother, but Donnie Wahlberg also has some incredible acting chops and his performance comes in his minor-ish role in The Sixth Sense. It's clear that the former (and current) New Kid On The Block lost a ton of weight for his haunting performance in the movie.

Steve Carell - Foxcatcher

Murderer John du Pont of the famous du Pont family was a unique-looking guy. In Foxcatcher, Steve Carell completely embodies that uniqueness, It's almost unsettling how much Carell looks like du Pont and not like himself in the disturbing movie about the murder the scion of the wealthy family committed in 1997.

Cate Blanchett — I’m Not There

The legendary Bob Dylan has been played on screen a few times and remarkably the actor that pulled off his look and mannerism best is the amazing Cate Blanchett in I’m Not There. Of all the actors who play a version of the folk singer, Blancett is the most convincing and she looks nothing like herself in the movie.

Zac Efron - The Iron Claw

Early in his career Zac Efron was kind of typecast as the goofy good-looking guy. In 2023's The Iron Claw he completely upends that as he embodied the late Kerry Von Erich in the fantastic biopic about wrestling's first family, the Von Erichs

Renée Zellweger - The Thing About Pam

After a little bit of a career lull that included a four-year break from acting, Renée Zellweger returned in a big way in the late 2010s, culminating in an Oscar-winning performance as Judy Garland in 2019's Judy, which completely revived her career. Her best was yet to come because despite not getting the same accolades in the press, her performance as murderer Pam Hupp in The Thing About Pam was a complete transformation

Jared Leto - Chapter 27

Turning someone as good-looking as Jared Leto into someone as despised as the man who killed John Lennon is no easy feat. Leto's performance as Mark David Chapman is incredible and even though the movie has flown under the radar for years, it's worth seeking out just to see how different Leto can look from himself.

Missi Pyle - Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

How do you take a beautiful woman like Missi Pyle and make her look like a deranged Eastern European dodgeball player? Ask the makeup department for Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. The work they did, along with Pyle's acting, was amazing. There's no way to know it was her in any way unless you double-check the credits.

Sebastian Stan - A Different Man

A Different Man tells the hilarious and heartwarming tale of a struggling actor with a condition known as neurofibromatosis. Sebastian Stan plays the actor under a whole ton of wonderful makeup and despite the obvious limitation that makeup puts on the actor, Stan puts in a career-defining performance.

Chris Hemsworth - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

While it isn't the most extreme example on this list, Chris Hemsworth's look in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is amazing. The only reason you really know it's him is that he uses his natural Aussie accent in the movie, which he doesn't do all that much these days. He's even won awards for the performance!

Ryan Reynolds - Blade: Trinity

Okay, we'll admit this isn't the biggest transformation on this list, but you can't deny that Ryan Reynolds has a completely different, more sinister look in Blade: Trinity. It's way different from what you expect from a standard Reynolds performance.

Nicole Kidman - Birth

Nicole Kidman is an amazing actress, but she's not one of those actors you expect to completely change her look for a role. Her part in Birth shows that she certainly can do that, and do it in spectacular ways.

Robert De Niro - Raging Bull

Robert De Niro famously put on a ton of weight for his role as Al Capone in The Untouchables. He also got completely jacked for Cape Fear. He did both for his incredible performance in Raging Bull. As a young Jake LaMotta he was cut and fit and as an older version of the boxer, he was flabby and overweight. Either way, De Niro looks less like himself and more like the real-life boxer. He certainly deserved the Oscar he won for the role.

Margot Robbie - Mary, Queen of Scots

Mary, Queen of Scots had a unique look that was only enhanced by the odd style of 16th Century Scotland. Still, Margot Robbie nails the look of the queen in a way that leaves the audience squinted to see if it's really the Australian actress.

Gary Oldman - The Darkest Hour

No one transforms quite like Gary Oldman. He's completely different in every role he plays and in The Darkest Hour, he completely embodies his role as Winston Churchill. It's not just the makeup, though that is perfect, it's also the voice and mannerisms he brings to the role that makes you believe you're actually watching the legendary prime minister.

Charlize Theron - Bombshell

Bombshell is one of those movies where you might think you're watching the real-life characters that the cast of Bombshell are playing. Charlize Theron's portrayal of former Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly tops the performances. It's pitch-perfect in every way.

Not many Disney Channel Original Movies have had the cultural impact that High School Musical has had. Kenny Ortega’s exuberant, tween romp practically took the world by storm and made stars of its actors. It particularly marked the rise of Zac Efron, who only had a few notable credits to his name up to that point. He wasn’t exactly the obvious choice for the lead role, but Disney cast Efron. However, amid production on the 2006 film, the House of Mouse also put him in an “incredibly awkward” position.

Author Ashley Spencer learned intriguing behind-the-scenes details about the seminal musical film while writing her new book, Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire. That included information about HSM and how Zac Efron came to play basketball player and aspiring actor Troy Bolton. Spencer spoke to casting director Natalie Hart, who explained that Efron didn’t fit the typical Hollywood mold. Yet Hart also revealed (via Page Six) a silver lining to that:

It’s also explained in the book, the then-17-year-old San Luis Obispo native sported floppy locks and wasn’t a singer and underwent a bit of a makeover to better fit the role. Before landing his Disney gig, he also mostly just had guest roles and small appearances in films and TV shows aside from a main cast member stint on the short-lived WB drama series Summerland. Despite all of that, given the charm that he’d eventually exude on screen, it’s easy to see why the casting directors wanted him for the role of Troy. (His boyish looks apparently even caused co-star Vanessa Hudgens to have a “meltdown” when they first read together.)

Amid the eventual production of the film, the main HSM cast – which also included young actors like Ashley Tisdale and Corbin Bleu – recorded their vocals for the soundtrack. In an interesting turn of events, though, when the final album was released, it was revealed that Zac Efron’s material had been recorded over with a different singer. Ashley Spencer wrote about that creative decision in her book as well:

That does indeed sound awkward, and the eventual Iron Claw star reportedly didn’t take it well. Adding to that is the fact that the actors “had all been cast as triple threats.” Ultimately, singer Drew Seeley (who also auditioned for Troy) was brought into the booth to record most of the vocals for Troy’s verses. While the movie ultimately turned out to be successful, one can understand why Efron may not have been too thrilled at the time.

Nevertheless, Zac Efron ultimately recorded his own lines and, as Drew Seeley explained to E! News months ago, there are no hard feelings between him and Efron. The Troy Bolton actor himself also still speaks fondly about High School Musical and even visited the real East High in 2022. During an interview conducted in early 2024, he even called the experience of making the first film “just magical.”

It's interesting to think that the Ricky Stanicky star was an unconventional choice for leading man early on and was put in a tight spot music-wise. However, it's great that he can now say he was a part of something that still resonates with so many people today.

You can stream High School Musical now using a Disney+ subscription. There are other great Disney Channel Original movies to watch on the platform as well.

In July, we learned that Zac Efron has landed his next movie role with A24 as the star of a book adaptation called Famous. After the actor earned rave reviews for his last movie with the company, The Iron Claw, it felt like an exciting move for Efron – especially after he got to explore some levity for Netflix’s A Family Affair. But now that his first co-star has been found, I’m even more excited about one of A24’s upcoming movies.

Phoebe Dynevor Just Joined Zac Efron’s Next Movie

Bridgerton alum Phoebe Dynevor has been cast to work alongside Zac Efron in Famous, per Deadline. The actress famously starred in the first season of the Netflix regency romance alongside Regé-Jean Page before reprising the role as a supporting character in Season 2. I’ve since been really excited for the actress blowing up in more roles, but I haven’t seen her in a ton of things since then.

She was amazing in the Fair Play cast and has been open about losing out to playing Lois Lane in James Gunn’s Superman. Now she’s got herself an exciting gig by starring alongside a verified movie star in an intriguing premise that very much has something to say about being a celebrity.

What Is Famous About And Why I’m Excited For This Pair Up 

Famous is based on the novel of the same title by Blake Crouch, who is a bestselling author you may also know from his Wayward Pines trilogy or Dark Matter, which recently became an Apple TV+ series. In the movie, Efron is set to play two characters: one is Lance Dunkquist, a 38-year-old man who lives in his parents' basement who plots to embody his celebrity look alike, James Jansen, by making the trek to Los Angeles.

Creepy, right? Now I haven’t read the book myself, but it sounds like a wild premise that will allow Zac Efron to really use those acting chops to play totally against type and then transform into the movie star he is known to be, with a twist. I love that Phoebe Dynevor was cast because it’s totally against type from her roots in Bridgerton, too.

Sure, the actress could have gone for a sweet romantic comedy after starring in the Netflix phenomenon, but Famous sounds like it will challenge her, and I’m interested to see how her dynamic with Efron’s characters goes. Dynevor has also been busy at work doing a few projects, like Neil Burger’s Inheritance and a movie called Anniversary with McKenna Grace, Zoey Deutch, Diane Lane and Dylan O’Brien. Both of those are thrillers, too!

We don’t know right now when Famous will film or be released, but this pair-up has me more interested in what the two actors will have up their sleeves for this interestingly different movie for the both of them.

For a lucky few, Hollywood is a family business, though that honor comes with its own set of qualms when famous parents face nepotism accusations over casting their children in roles. Rob Lowe and his son, John Owen, are no strangers to this conversation, having worked together on a handful of projects over the years. While the quintessential Brat Pack member has no issue working with his talented offspring, he would draw the line at casting him in a biopic of his life, and Owen has some thoughts about his dad’s casting choice.

Back in June, the father-son duo was interviewed by Entertainment Tonight when the 29-year-old asked his father who he'd cast to play the elder Lowe if the powers that be in Hollywood decided to give a biopic about his life a 2025 release date. Lowe didn’t need to think about the question and immediately threw out Zac Efron’s name before praising him for his work in A24’s The Iron Claw.

While another child star might have been upset to hear their father cast someone else in a role that they could have kept in the family, Owen took the hypothetical casting in stride and agreed with his father. The topic came up in conversation again recently when the Unstable co-stars were interviewed by watchmojo. This time around, the interviewer chose to direct the question at the actor/writer and asked why Lowe wouldn’t consider his own sole for the biopic role.

There are many reasons why Lowe and Owen want to distance themselves from a hypothetical biopic about the 9-1-1: Lone Star lead's life. For one, it would definitely bring up the dreaded nepotism argument again. There’s also the simple fact that actors in biopics often get a tremendous wave of hate for their depictions of beloved subjects. Perhaps, in fictitiously casting Efron, Lowe was saving his son from that same sort of backlash.

Like the pro he is, Owen took the interview question in stride and even added his own humorous take on the casting by saying his dad would be the one who would benefit from the Efron casting and not the other way around.

While Efron definitely has the acting chops to handle another biopic, it’s unlikely his phone will be ringing anytime soon for this particular gig, since there isn’t a Lowe film in the works, as far as we know. As unfortunate as that is, fans can still get their fix by tuning into 9-1-1: Lone Star when it returns to the 2024 TV Schedule in September for its fifth and potentially final season.

Fans can also check out Lowe and Owen as the fictional father-son duo in the streaming comedy Unstable. The first season is available to stream on the service with a Netflix subscription, and the second season is on the way.

Having already made plenty of headlines in 2024 — probably more for the critically blah-ed rom-com A Family Affair than the gross-out comedy Ricky Stanicky — Zac Efron sparked some far more troubling reports over the weekend after being hospitalized due to some kind of an incident while swimming. Details weren’t so prevalent immediately after things went down, but now more follow-ups have emerged, giving fans a better idea of what exactly went down.

The High School Musical vet was said to be hanging out with friends at his villa in Ibiza in the early hours of Saturday morning. Feeling the urge to take a dip, Efron apparently dove into the on-property pool in a way where his chest struck the bottom surface, which caused him to ingest a sizable amount of pool water in the moment, according to TMZ.

Thankfully, security personnel at the site were able to help Efron out of the water after he was visibly showing signs of distress. Because he was reportedly feeling a bit shaken up by the experience, the actor was taken to the hospital out of precaution.

While hospitalized, Efron’s chest was x-rayed to make sure his lungs no longer had any water in them, which was confirmed. Soon after, he was technically cleared to vacate the hospital and return home. However, due to photographers in the area catching wind that the celeb was transported there, Efron inevitably remained within the building for a few extra hours to avoid the publicity.

According to the outlet, Zac Efron returned to his villa after the hospital visit, and had a perfectly normal Sunday. Not only did he post a social pic of himself working out, but he also reportedly had dinner that night in Ibiza ahead of a Monday flight back to the United States without any further incidents.

Thank goodness the actor was with friends and had others around at the time, or else what amounted to an easy-to-rectify situation may have become far more serious. It's a good reminder for anyone to double-check a pool's depth before attempting a deep plunge.

Efron, a known supporter of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team, is no stranger to publicized medical incidents, having faced a few major scares over the years. He went through a “life or death” ordeal while filming the reality show Killing Zac Efron in 2019, and only in recent years did he open up about having shattered his jaw in 2013 in a near-death experience, which led to the surgery that notably changed the shape of his face.

Next up on the actor’s film slate will be A24’s adaptation Blake Crouch’s sci-fi thriller Famous, which will potentially be a lock for the 2025 movie schedule, so hopefully no further medical emergencies pop up in the meantime.

Back in 2016, Zac Efron got on a plane to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and headed for the Olympics women’s gymnastics event venue, where he surprised superfan Simone Biles. At the time, she was a burgeoning phenom and Rio was her first Olympics where she showed off her stuff. They’d done a meet and greet and the former High School Musical star even chastely kissed Biles on the cheek, going viral. Now, he's supporting Biles after she headed to Paris as well.

How Zac Efron And Simone Biles Met And Why He Showed Up At The Olympics

The surprise visit came after Efron and Biles actually met while both were doing press on Today. She kept bringing up the Hollywood heartthrob in relation to the 2016 Olympics, and even invited him to the finals during that fated day they appeared together, “OK, Zac Efron, I think we need you here at the team final because we'll all get to be there. And we need you to come watch.”

Normally that's the type of fluffy thing that might happen on TV but never pan out. Instead, he really did show up at the Olympics, and she later shared their meet-cutes (of a sort) on social media, because it’s Zac Efron, obviously.

While some commenters have been up in arms of late about the gymnast getting a cheek kiss from a famous actor, listen, y'all--this is before Ms. Biles was married. And it was just a cute fangirl moment.

At the time, Efron told Today he had to show up at the event after meeting the women on the Olympics team and hearing about their passion, dedication and fortitude ahead of what we see on the TV schedule.

He even called them his “Olympic Dream" come true.

Which brings us to the 2024 in Paris Olympic events.

What’s Going On During The Olympics 2024

Eight years later, Biles is back and working hard at her third round of Olympics events in women’s gymnastics. She and the other four ladies comprising the 2024 Paris Olympics team – Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Hezly Rivera – won gold in the team event and are currently preparing to compete in the Women’s All-Around.

Efron’s been in Paris during the Olympics this year again, showing up at a “Prelude to the Olympics” cocktail party last week. He even took a photo with American Fencer Miles Chamley-Watson, so it’s not just the gymnasts he’s here to support.

He's not the only major name at the Olympics in support, as Tom Cruise, Sarah Jessica Parker and others have been spotted. But he did make a special effort with the female gymnasts again. In fact, when the women won gold, he took to social media this time and shared a stories post for Biles and co., sharing some emojis and writing:

So far the lady gymnasts have earned a gold medal in the team event, becoming the team with the oldest competitors ever to do so. The Women's all-around, featuring Simone Biles and Suni Lee, will commence on Thursday, followed by individual events.

If Zac Efron needs to know how to watch Simone Biles and co, we have him covered.

From the moment it debuted with a two-hour pilot episode in September of 1994 until it left the air in 2009, ER was a ratings monster. It regularly topped the ratings for the year during its 331-episode run and launched careers left and right. George Clooney for goodness sake! Not only did it have big stars in its regular cast like Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Maura Tierney, and Eriq LaSalle, but it also had a huge amount of guest stars and up-and-coming actors roll through the show. Here is our list of some of the biggest. 

Nick Offerman

Nick Offerman is most well known for playing the great Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation where he regularly delivered some of the funniest lines on the show. He didn't have anything funny to say in his one role on ER where he played a bandmate of a bass player in distress in the emergency room.  

Taraji P. Henson

The accolades for Taraji P. Henson's acting have come fast and fierce in recent years, but she's been showcasing her talent on screen since the late '90s. One of her earliest roles was in a Season 4 episode of ER, and then in Season 5, she returned in a different role. She kept landing guest roles for years on shows like CSI and Boston Legal before landing her starring turn in Empire and the rest is history. 

Bradley Whitford

A few years before the role of Josh Lyman on The West Wing would make him a star, Bradley Whitford appeared in two episodes of ER in 1995. He'd been working regularly for almost a decade at that point and would find small roles here and there for another few years before The West Wing. He's been an in-demand actor ever since. 

Kristin Davis

Before she was a regular on Melrose Place, and before she was one of Jerry's many girlfriends on Seinfeld, Kristin Davis played a woman who was very into George Clooney's character very briefly in one episode of the first season of ER. While she only showed up once on the show, it clearly opened some big doors - and big martini glasses - in the future. 

Zac Efron

Before becoming a star in High School Musical, Zac Efron was almost type-cast as a troubled teen. On ER he played a teenager who turned up in the emergency room after being shot. He was also a troublemaker in an early role on NCIS. These days he's one of the biggest stars to grace the screen, but he used to just be in trouble on screen! 

Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor is something different to different generations. For some, he'll always be Renton in Trainspotting. Of course, for many, he'll always be a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. For even others, he's known as the guy who drove his motorcycle around the world in Long Way Round. You can't help but wonder if that name was inspired by his guest spot on ER in a Season 3 episode called "The Long Way Around" in 1997. 

Julie Bowen

While Julie Bowen is best known these days for playing Claire Dunphy in Modern Family, her career stretches way further back. Her first TV role came in the early '90s and her breakout role came in the 1993 Adam Sandler smash hit Happy Gilmore. In the late '90s, she had a nine-episode run on ER as the reoccurring character named Roxanne Please, who was John Carter's (Noah Wyle) girlfriend. 

Ving Rhames

1994 was a big year for Ving Rhames. Not only did he star in Pulp Fiction, but he also landed a reoccurring role as Walt Robbins, father-in-law to Dr. Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle). In total, he appeared in eight episodes over three seasons, but by then he'd also starred in Mission: Impossible and the rest is history. 

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu is no stranger to hit television shows. She was a star of Ally McBeal in the '90s and '00s, and in Elementary in the teens. Early on, she also appeared in cameos and supporting roles on big shows like NYPD Blue and The X-Files. She also made it onto three episodes of ER, in 1995. 

Chris Pine

Believe it or not, there was a time when Chris Pine wasn't one of the "Chrises" and wasn't one of the biggest movie stars in the world. He was, in his early days, just like so many other actors, just looking to snag any role they could. Luckily for Pine, it was on a show like ER. In fact, the show he appeared in during Season 9 of the show was his first credited acting performance. 

Don Cheadle

When Don Cheadle appeared as a doctor in a 4-episode arc in 2002 on ER, he was already well-established as an actor. In fact, it came not long after he was established enough to take his name off the credits of Ocean's Eleven, despite delivering some of the best one-liners in the movie. 

J.K. Simmons

Any fan of Law & Order knows just how ingrained J.K. Simmons was in prime-time television around the turn of the century. He was a regular on that show, and he turned up in a bunch of others as well, including an episode of ER in 2004. you can always count on a great J.K. Simmons performance, no matter what he is in. 

Christina Hendricks

While she had been cast in a number of shows before Mad Men, Christina Hendricks had never really broken through as a star. That changed with the AMC show, but before that, she was just a regular hard-working actress in Hollywood. One of her earliest gigs was on ER in 2002. 

Adam Scott

Adam Scott is not the only Parks And Recreation star to appear in ER early in his career, but he did have a pretty intense role as an injured man clinging to life in the emergency room way back in 1995. It's hard to imagine it took 15 more years to get the big-time attention he deserves when he landed his role on Park & Rec. 

Glen Howerton

In 2005 Always Sunny In Philadelphia took the world by storm and went on to become one of the longest-running sitcoms of all time. Glen Howerton played a huge part in that, as one of the stars and co-creators. A couple of years earlier, he was playing a very different role as a doctor in six Episodes of ER during its 10th Season. 

Keiko Agena

Gilmore Girls regular and co-star of Prodigal Son, Keiko Agena is one of the few actors who played two different characters on ER. She first appeared on the show very early in her career, in 1998, then later appeared in the final season in 2009. 

Jessica Chastain

With three Oscar nominations and one win, Jessica Chastain has proven she's among the best Hollywood has to offer. She proved her acting years ago though, in shows like ER. In only her second credited role, she appeared on ER in 2004 in an episode called "Forgive and Forget."

Aaron Paul

For most people, Aaron Paul is best known for his legendary role in Breaking Bad but years before that show would become a hit, he played a pretty similar character on ER in an episode called "A Saint in the City," way back in 2003. 

Octavia Spencer

In 1998 when Octavia Spencer appeared on ER, it was the latest in a string of supporting roles she landed early in her career. That string would continue for a little while longer before she emerged as one of the most beloved stars of the teens and '20s after her star-making role in The Help.

Mena Suvari

As it was for a lot of cast members, American Pie was huge for Mena Suvari. She had been working for a few years in Hollywood before that, picking up roles here and there in shows like Boy Meets World and movies like The Slums of Beverly Hills. Another early role came in a 1998 episode of ER where she played a high school cheerleader who didn't want to listen to her doctors. 

Kirsten Dunst

As a child actor, Kirsten Dunst's career started when she was just six years old. It would be a few years before she landed a brief reoccurring role as a troubled teen in six episodes of ER in the show's third season. 

Dakota Fanning

Quite a few child actors who went on to greater fame came through the doors of the emergency room at Cook County General Hospital, including a young Dakota Fanning. Fanning played a young girl named Delia who came in after a car accident and viewers find out she's a cancer survivor. 

James Cromwell

One of the ultimate "that guys" in Hollywood, James Cromwell has been acting for decades. His career really started in earnest in the mid-'70s and he's been playing supporting and starring roles ever since. On ER, he played a drug-seeking priest in four episodes in Season 7. 

Josh Peck

Josh Peck was a breakout Nickelodeon star as half of Drake & Josh. That wasn't his first role though. After a few small roles and a reoccurring spot in The Amanda Show (which led to Drake & Josh), he landed a small role in an episode of ER in 2002 as a kid with heart problems. 

Eva Mendes

Before Eva Mendes semi-retired to raise her family with Ryan Gosling, she was one of the biggest stars on the planet. You can trace her career all the way back to her very first role which came in 1998 on an episode of ER. It's wild to look back and watch her doing her first on-screen performances with George Clooney and not think about what lay ahead for both of them. 

Shia LaBeouf

Without a doubt, Shia LaBeouf has had one of the wildest careers of the 21st Century. There have been times when he was on top of the world, and others when he... definitely wasn't. One high point early in his career was of a kid in the emergency room of Cook County General in 2000, during Season 6. 

Milana Vayntrub

Milana Vayntrub eventually became one of the most recognizable actors in commercials as the AT&T pitchwoman. Long before that though, she was like a lot of child actors who got their start on ER. She appeared in three episodes, her first three credited roles, as a Russian girl, way back in Season 1. 

John Mahoney

Before scoring the role of a lifetime as Martin Crane on Fraiser, John Mahoney had been a steadily working actor going back to the '70s. After Frasier, he could pretty much write his own ticket. One role he chose to take was that of a self-professed "drag queen" whose long-time boyfriend was in rough shape in the hospital on ER in 2006, making a strong statement about gay marriage before many were brave enough to join him. 

Janel Moloney

One of the many great actresses who found early work in their career on ER was Janel Moloney. Moloney scored only a handful of roles between that and The West Wing, but boy was the West Wing lucky to have her - as was ER in its first season when she appeared in one episode. 

Amy Ryan

One of the most underrated characters in The Wire has to be Beadie Russell, played by Amy Ryan. About a decade before she joined The Wire in Season 2, she starred in a single episode of ER in the show's first season. She's been in many TV shows and movies since, including a beloved recurring role on The Office and in the underrated Netflix original Worth.

Rosemary Clooney

George Clooney isn't the only famous person in his family. His aunt is, of course, the inimitably Rosemary Clooney, who was one of the most beloved singers of her generation. She only had about a dozen acting credits on her impressive resume, but one was ER during the show's first season. What a great experience for her and her nephew. Her son, actor Miguel Ferrer, also appeared in an uncredited role in the series premiere of the show. 

Dan Hedaya

If you grew up in the '90s, Dan Hedaya was seemingly everywhere, but he's probably best remember by that generation as Cher Horowitz's angry but loving father in Clueless. On ER, he plays a lawyer with... questionable ethics, but a heart of gold. He appeared in four episodes over the length of the whole show. remembered

When you've been around as long as NCIS has, there are bound to be a ton of big stars who have made cameos or had early roles in their career on the show. Some of the biggest stars of today have popped up on the long-running CBS procedural. Here is a list of quite a few stars who have appeared on NCIS.

Millie Bobby Brown

Before Millie Bobby Brown hit the really big time as Eleven in Stranger Things, she was working steadily from a young age. One of her first roles on American television came in Episode 6 of Season 12 of NCIS back in 2014. She had only had a couple of roles before it. 

Glen Powell

Glen Powell has emerged as one of the biggest stars around. His first huge break came in Top Gun Maverick, and even though that made him an A-lister, he'd been a working actor for decades at that point, going back to roles he had as a kid. An early role in his adulthood came in Season 10 of NCIS, where he played a Marine in a double episode. 

Lily Tomlin

You just never knew who might show up on NCIS. In Season 9 viewers were treated to an appearance by the legendary Lily Tomlin. In true Tomlin style, she plays a quirky but capable grandmother to one of the team members, McGee (Sean Murray). 

Billy Dee Williams

If fans ever wondered why Gibbs (Mark Harmon) had the first name Jethro, they learned why in Season 10. In the episode, the great Billy Dee Williams plays Jethro Moore, a World War II hero, and Gibbs' father's best friend. Moore and the older Gibbs had had a falling out, but by the end, the younger Gibbs had smoothed everything out between them. 

Jamie Lee Curtis

Hollywood legend Jamie Lee Curtis had a bit more than just a cameo. On the show she played Dr. Samantha Ryan over five episodes towards the end of Season 9 plays a possible love interest for Gibbs, but alas it was not meant to be and she is forced to go into hiding, never to be heard from again on the show. 

Terry O'Quinn

In the early days of NCIS, there was another show about to make its network debut: Lost. It turns out that quite a few actors who became known for their roles on Lost also popped up on NCIS around the same time. One is none other than John Locke himself, Terry O'Quinn. O'Quinn plays a Marine Colonel in an episode in the show's first season. 

Danica McKellar

Danica McKellar is best known as Winnie Cooper in The Wonder Years. She also had a great, if somewhat brief, run in The West Wing as Will's sister. On NCIS, she appeared in the Season 2 episode called "Witness," as the titular witness of a crime. In the years since McKellar has found a home in made-for-TV Christmas movies and remains popular with her fans. 

Sean Astin

Sean Astin has carved out a pretty amazing career. His very first role, as Mikey in The Goonies, is one of the most beloved movie characters of all time. Plus he was in that little trilogy known as the Lord of the Rings, something he was nervous about. More recently, he was a key cast member of Stranger Things. In between, he was never not working, including a guest spot in Season 9 of NCIS. 

Taye Diggs

You could say that Taye Diggs got back to his roots in his guest appearance in Season 13. While Diggs plays a Marine on the show, he's a marine with the voice of an angel and at the end of the show, Diggs sings "Hallelujah" with the help of the real-life MusiCorps Wounded Warrior Band. Diggs, of course, got his start on Broadway in musicals like Carousel and Rent. 

Samantha Logan

Samantha Logan is best known for roles in Netflix's 12 Reasons Why and CW's All American, but before both of those roles she played the daughter of a character played by Taye Diggs on NCIS. Logan made her acting debut way back in 2009 when she was just 13 and had a small role in Gossip Girl. 

Bob Newhart

What can we say about the late, great Bob Newhart? His TV career is the stuff of legends with two massively popular shows that bore his name and for a younger generation, he'll always be Will Farrell's character's adoptive father in Elf. He also popped up in NCIS, playing a character very much in his wheelhouse. 

Jon Cryer

Jon Cryer started his career in some classic '80s movies like Pretty In Pink and Morgan Stewart's Coming Home. In the 2000s, he became a TV legend as one of the men in Two and a Half Men. He's since even played Lex Luthor, in the Supergirl TV show. Somehow he also found the time to pop into an episode of NCIS playing a battlefield doctor. 

Drew Carey

He started in stand-up. Then had a hit show named after himself. Then he became a superstar of daytime TV as the host of The Price is Right. Drew Carey has done it all, including showing up for one episode of NCIS as a retired marine. Carey was a marine in real life, so the role is actually perfect.  

Michelle Obama

Okay, okay so technically Michelle Obama isn't an actress, but she did show up in one episode of NCIS while she was First Lady of the United States. She played herself of course, there's no way she could be anyone but herself, right? She welcomed Gibbs and others to the White in an episode called "Homefront."

Abigail Breslin

As one of the youngest Oscar nominees ever, at age 10, you might think that Abigail Breslin just burst on the scene in Little Miss Sunshine. That's not the case though. Breslin was already a working actor with a bunch of credits on her resume, including a supporting role in one episode of NCIS in the Season 2 premiere. 

Sterling K. Brown

The Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning actor Sterling K. Brown was a veteran of prime-time TV long before his own show, This Is Us, made people cry every week. As he was coming up in Hollywood, he popped up on all kinds of network shows, including one episode of NCIS in 2013.

Dean Norris

Dean Norris is most famous for Breaking Bad, but he's been snagging roles for decades. One role was as a Marine in a very early episode of NCIS. In Episode 12 of Season 1, Norris plays a soldier with a past run-in with Gibbs when Gibbs was still an MP.

Zac Efron

Zac Efron became a huge star thanks to movies like High School Musical and Neighbors, but he was a child long before those movies exploded. One of his early roles came in a Season 3 episode of NCIS where he played a trouble-making kid that he was perfect for. 

Jesse Plemons

A quick glance at Jessie Plemons resume will show that the actor took the long road to fame. While he would eventually be leading men and key supporting characters in some of Hollywood's biggest movies, he started more humbly. One such example is his role as a teenager getting in trouble with the team at NCIS on the show. 

Colin Hanks

Tom Hanks is often called "America's Dad" and so that must make Colin Hanks our collective brother, right? Well, maybe not, but he is a great actor in his own right and he shows it in roles like the one he starred in on NCIS in two episodes at the end of Season 10. 

Sherilyn Fenn

As one of the breakout stars of Twin Peaks in the '90s, Sherilyn Fenn is no stranger to network TV. With over 100 credits to her name on IMDB, she's been on shows all over the dial over the last 30 years or so. One of those credits came in Season 1 of NCIS.

Josh Holloway

Josh Holloway's star shined the brightest when he starred as Sawyer in Lost starting in the fall of 2004. Just a few months before that, he played a local sheriff in Season 1 of NCIS. Since then, he's been a regular in shows like Yellowstone, Colony, and Intelligence. 

Frank Whaley

It's crazy to think that Frank Whaley's career goes all the way back to the '80s. IT's even crazier to realize he's over 60 years old now. The guy hasn't aged a day since Career Opportunities in 1991. Come to think of it, neither has his co-star in that movie, Jennifer Connelly. Connelly, however, hasn't been in an episode of NCIS and Whaley has, playing an escaped convict. 

Jim Rash

Jim Rash is most beloved for playing the hapless dean of the community college in Community, but he's been in tons of over shows. He's been in some quirky shows too, like a voice role in Mike Tyson's Mysteries and as a semi-regular on Reno 911!. He's a writer as well, co-writing the George Clooney movie The Descendants. He also found time to star in an episode of NCIS way back in it's first season. 

Julie Benz

Julie Benz's first big TV role was on Buffy The Vampire Slayer and later its spinoff Angel, playing Darla. Later she was a regular on Hawaii Five-O and Defiance. In Episode 22 of Season 1 of NCIS, Benz played the grieving wife of a soldier. 

Emilie De Ravin

It turns out that NCIS was a good place for cast members of Lost to star right before they all got super famous on the ABC show. Emilie de Ravin is one of those stars who appeared in a Season 1 episode of the show just like her fellow Lost cast members Josh Holloway and Terry O'Quinn. 

Bellamy Young

Before Bellamy Young became a regular on the hit show Scandal, she worked on a lot of shows on TV, including two early episodes of Law & Order, where she played two different roles, something it turns out a lot of actors did. Young played an undercover ATF agent in an episode in Season 1 of NCIS.

Daphne Zuniga

For anyone who grew up in the 1980s, Daphne Zuniga will always be Princess Vesper in Mel Brooks' classic Space Balls and Alison in The Sure Thing alongside John Cusack. In the 2020s she was still turning in great performances, like that of a Navy commander with very questionable motives in a Season 17 episode of NCIS.

Zoe Perry

In The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon's mother was played by the great Laurie Metcalfe. When the spinoff Young Shelton hit the airwaves. Zoe Perry took over the role and played it perfectly. She had a lot of experience at that point, including a guest spot as a police officer in two episodes of NCIS during the show's 13th season.

Ray Wise

Ray Wise is one of the great character actors of his generation. He's most famous for playing Leland Palmer, the father-turned-murderer in Twin Peaks, but his career stretches back to the 1960s. On NCIS he plays the father of a guy who thinks he's a superhero, which as you can imagine, he has no patience for in Episode 15 of Season 9. 

Tyler Ritter

Actor Tyler Ritter, who is the son of the beloved John Ritter, seems to pop up all over the place. He's played a detective in Arrow, he was in Homecoming, and he played  Abby Sciuto's (Pauley Perrette) brother Luca in an NCIS crossover event with NCIS: New Orleans when the spinoff began. 

Don Lake

You might not know his name, but you know his face, especially if you are a fan of the Christopher Quest-verse. Don Lake was a cast member in Waiting for Guffman, Best In Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, and even Mascots. Usually, he plays the straight man, but that doesn't mean he's not hilarious. Even in serious roles, like his in a Season 17 episode of NCIS, you can't help but crack a smile when he's on screen. 

Hot Ones is a seriously popular YouTube series that has hosted some major A-listers. The charismatic host, Sean Evans asks well-researched questions, but the real draw is the spicy wings the guest is tasked with eating during the interview. The wings get spicier and spicier with every question until the guests are practically melting. Apparently, a recreation of a Hot Ones interview was supposed to be featured in the new Netflix movie, A Family Affair, but it didn’t make the cut. Now, the film's director is explaining why.

In an interview with The Wrap, A Family Affair director Richard LaGravenese revealed that he shot an entire episode of the popular YouTube show with Evans for the project on the 2024 movie schedule. Efron was in character as Chris Cole, while the practically hot-wing immune Sean Evans conducted a Hot Ones interview like he would with any real celebrity guest. However, the interview will never see the light of day, as this ended up not making the final cut. Apparently, there was too much story to be told, and they couldn’t quite fit in a whole Hot Ones episode. The filmmaker explained:

The clip was initially supposed to open the movie, integrated in with several other clips of Efron doing movie press from his real life. There is actually a small piece from this in the opening montage, however, the full episode was axed from the final cut.

Despite it not being featured in the movie, Efron and Evans apparently had a lot of fun with it, and the Hot Ones host was a great sport about it. LaGravenese said:

As for shooting a fake episode of Hot Ones, this isn’t the first time someone has filmed an episode of it in character.

Maya Rudolph shot a fake episode of the show for her series Loot (which can be streamed with an Apple TV+ subscription) where she was in character as Molly Wells. The show has also been parodied on SNL, also with Maya Rudolph who played Beyoncé in the sketch.

It's a pretty hot show (no pun intended), so it makes sense why LaGravenese would want to feature it in A Family Affair. It is exactly the kind of press a character like Chris Cole would do begrudgingly, I just wish we got to see the whole thing.

While this episode may never become available to fans, there is still the very real episode of Zac Efron on Hot Ones from 2020. He was promoting his Quibi series Killing Zac Efron, which saw him venturing into dangerous jungles on remote islands.

As daring as that endeavor was, participating in a Hot Ones interview is also an intimidating challenge. Jennifer Lawrence described her own harrowing experience on the spicy wing show, and the aftermath of the situation, saying she "passionately threw up." Meanwhile, Efron was truly sweating in his episode, and tears were visible in his eyes as he approached his last wing. Hot Ones is not for the faint of heart, but Efron took it like a champ. I wonder if the Cole Chase character did as well with the spice.

You can see Zac Efron in A Family Affair by streaming it with a Netflix subscription. Fans can also check out Efron’s real Hot Ones interview as well as all other episodes on the First We Feast YouTube channel. For more information on other films heading to Netflix in the near future, make sure to consult our upcoming Netflix movie guide.

Zac Efron earned a considerable amount of attention in 2023 due to his masterful work in A24’s acclaimed wrestling drama The Iron Claw. The film saw Efron take on the role of Kevin Von Erich, and some critics (along with myself) believe it to be the star’s finest work as an actor. Some may have been wondering whether Efron might team up with the aforementioned studio for another movie. Well, as luck would have it, the A Family Affair star has indeed landed another movie that will fall under that esteemed production banner. And, quite frankly, this new flick sounds wild.

The upcoming A24 film that the A-lister is set to star in is Famous, which is based on Blake Crouch’s best-selling 2010 novel of the same name. Not only does Deadline report that the studio has snatched up the domestic distribution rights to the movie, but also that Eastbound and Down and The Righteous Gemstones’ Jody Hill is directing. Additionally, Mr. Robot alum Sam Esmail is among the producers on the thriller flick. As exciting as Hill and Esmail’s involvement is though, there’s an element of this movie that excites me even more. Zac Efron is going to play a dual role!

In Famous, the Neighbors star will play the roles of Lance Dunkquist and James Jansen. The film tells the story of Dunkquist – an overly enthusiastic fan, who just happens to share a striking resemblance to Jansen, a famous Hollywood actor. It’s Lance’s goal to travel to Tinseltown in the hopes of launching a career and ultimately making a name for himself. And, per the description provided by the trade, it sounds like Lance plans to make his dreams come true by whatever means necessary. Now, if that slight tease doesn’t sound ominous, then I don’t know what does.

Needless to say, I am so down to see Zac Efron take on two roles and possibly chew some serious scenery. The first film that came to mind when I saw this news was the Hollywood-centric comedy, Bowfinger, which saw Eddie Murphy play dual roles. The satirical, Steve Martin-penned romp is easily one of Murphy’s best movies and is a perfect example of an actor masterfully playing two characters. I’d suspect that Efron and Jody Hill have a more intense story in mind for their flick, which will hopefully be very entertaining. This feels like a perfect A24-produced follow-up for Efron, and I won’t be surprised if he really flexes his acting muscles for it.

The Firestarter actor showed off his actual muscles in The Iron Claw, as he got truly ripped to play Kevin Von Erich. Sean Durkin’s gripping sports biopic focused on the rise of the iconic Von Erich wrestling dynasty, which was marred by immense tragedy. While it featured a talented ensemble consisting of Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Lily James and more, Zac Efron was singled out for his work by a number of pundits. Among the most notable real-life wrestlers to praise him was John Cena, his Ricky Stanicky co-star. The real Kevin also lauded Efron for his work, calling the actor “a real star.”

One could certainly make the argument that the High School Musical icon deserved some more love for his Iron Claw performance during awards season. I’m honestly still disappointed that he didn’t score any major awards nominations or wins. While I’m not one to remain fixated on trophies and it’s far too early to make any true assumptions, I do wonder whether Famous could earn its leading man some accolades. That might be a pipe dream, but it’s worth thinking about.

Awards or not though, I’m just hyped that Zac Efron is preparing to take on what could be yet another interesting project for him. I have faith that he, Jody Hill and co. will deliver a wild book adaptation that lives up to its source material.

For now, check out Zac Efron’s new 2024 movie release, A Family Affair, by streaming it with a Netflix subscription. You can also grab a Max subscription if you’d like to check out The Iron Claw.

As far as great comedies go, we really don’t give enough credit to Neighbors. The 2014 collaboration from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg was hilarious! After Zac Efron reminisced about how memorable Dave Franco’s Robert De Niro impression was, Rogen added his own recollection of shooting the funny frat party sequence.

Amidst Neighbors recently turning ten years old in May, Zac Efron spoke about sharing the scene with Dave Franco where the Delta Psi Beta brothers hold a Robert De Niro party. While The Greatest Showman star remembers “winging” his impression of the Taxi Driver actor, he was shocked by how well Franco nailed the Meet The Parents character. Now, Seth Rogen is weighing in on filming the Neighbors scene. In his words:

In an interview with Etalk, Rogen couldn’t stop laughing as he remembered Dave Franco’s Robert De Niro impression on the set of Neighbors.

As he shared, the production shot the angle of the scene where Rogen and Rose Byrne’s husband and wife characters were speaking to the loud frat bros next door. By the time the camera moved to shoot Efron and Franco, the Now You See Me actor’s face was “exhausted” from holding the expression. Check out the scene itself:

The new tidbit about the making of Neighbors makes it even more impressive! Zac Efron initially spoke about making the 2014 comedy while rewatching iconic scenes from his career thus far for Vanity Fair. Here’s what he said about filming the scene:

It’s such a great scene, especially because of how chaotic the frat party gets as Rogen’s new father gets annoyed with the college kids.

Neighbors was so good that a sequel came out two years later called Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, which brought Chloë Grace Moretz’s Shelby and her sorority sisters into the neighborhood. Rogen shared a crazy idea for a third Neighbors movie back in 2016, but it feels unlikely another flick would be made.

Thank goodness both Efron and Rogen have projects on the 2024 movie schedule to promote so close together that allowed for these Neighbors stories to pop up. Zac Efron has had a top Netflix movie for three weeks with A Family Affair, and Seth Rogen created and stars in Sausage Party: Foodtopia. The new series is now streaming for those with an Amazon Prime subscription. You can also watch CinemaBlend’s own interview with Rogen, where Kristen Wiig and Sam Richardson talked about recording food orgy scenes.

Zac Efron’s new movie A Family Affair has been getting a lot of attention on Netflix, but not all of it has been good. In fact, critics described the age-gap rom-com as “lifeless,” and fans have been panning the flick on social media. While I personally thought there was plenty to like about it, some of the criticism is definitely valid. What isn’t valid, or at least kind, are the comments about Efron’s face, as fans may have forgotten about the injury the actor was involved in that changed his appearance.

A Family Affair has remained in Netflix subscription holders’ Top 10 since its release at the end of June, but after watching the romantic comedy — which also stars Nicole Kidman and Joey King — many people are hitting up X (Twitter) with comments like those below: 

• What the heck is up with Zac Efron’s face? 🥴 – _AmbitiousA
• Zac Efron's face is unsettling – 2frank2fella
• I hate what Zac Efron did to his face – playgirllay

Not all of the comments and inquiries are unkind (some of them are pretty heinous though), but for those who didn’t know or don't remember, Zac Efron himself addressed jaw surgery rumors and explained why his face had changed during a 2022 interview, where he recalled the accident in which he said he “almost died.”

Men’s Health reported that in 2013 the High School Musical alum was running through his house in socks when he slipped, slamming his face on the corner of a granite fountain. He reportedly lost consciousness, saying that when he woke up, his chin bone was hanging off of his face. Recovery apparently included his jaw being wired shut, plastic surgery and years of physical therapy. 

However, when he stopped doing therapy in 2021 while filming his Netflix series Down to Earth, he said his masseter muscles (used for chewing) started to grow “really, really big” to compensate for other facial muscles not working at full strength. A Family Affair was filmed not long after in 2022, before hitting Netflix in 2024.

The discourse surrounding his face doesn’t seem to bother Zac Efron, as he told Men’s Health in the same interview:

That hasn’t stopped his fans from stepping in to defend him, though. In addition to plenty of tweets disparaging Zac Efron’s appearance, there are also some like these: 

• People tweet about Zac Efron’s face changing like he hasn’t had to undergo tons of reconstructive work from a severe jaw injury….. be nice omg – lordefranzia
• Can yall stop the hate on Zac Efron. He literally broke his jaw and had to get his whole face reconstructed. Please stop hating on the dude yall are annoying. – ParrisDuval

Some commenters aren’t buying that Zac Efron’s injury is the only reason his face looks different, with many saying they still think he’s gotten Botox and fillers. I can’t pretend to know if that’s true or not, but either way, I think this could serve as a good reminder to give people a little grace when it comes to commenting on their appearances.

If you want to see the actor in his latest project, A Family Affair is streaming now on Netflix, one of the best streaming services to subscribe to. 

Doing an impression of Robert De Niro is almost ritual at this point in pop culture, with Matthew McConoughey a close second favorite. But according to Zac Efron, who has worked with the Taxi Driver himself, no one does a better De Niro impression than Dave Franco. Efron was able to see Franco's impression first hand when they filmed Neighbors. And it was during that shoot that Efron was banking on his own impersonation being so bad that it would be hilarious.

The raunchy comedy about a couple with a newborn baby living next door to a frat house released a decade ago, but the Baywatch star says he remembers it so vividly like it was yesterday. In a recent edition of Vanity Fair’s Scene Selection, Zac Efron was asked to rewatch the scene in which the frat brothers throw a Robert De Niro party. The script called for Efron's Teddy Sanders to do an impression of the legendary actor, and the Paperboy star found it was easier said than done:

The High School Musical alum is no stranger to impersonating people on screen. Some of Zac Efron’s best performances have been biopics in which he has portrayed the likes of Kevin Von Erich in The Iron Claw and Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. His performances have been so well done that Rob Lowe expressed interest in the Greatest Showman actor playing him in a biopic, and another person with that desire was the late Matthew Perry, whom Efron played a younger version of in 17 Again. 

While filming Neighbors, Zac Efron ultimately couldn't get the classic “You talkin’ to me?” down nearly as well as the Nerve actor. Dave Franco, who plays Pete Regazolli, managed to not only top Efron’s character but nail his own impression of Mr. De Niro from his Meet The Fockers role. Efron went on to explain:

Dave Franco really commits to his impersonation, even sticking a mole on his face and squinting and scrunching his facial features in proper Fockers fashion. And the Hairspray actor is right, Franco’s impression is dead on, but that’s not even the best part of the 21 Jump Street actor’s bit. My favorite is when he tells Seth Rogan’s Mac Radner that he is upsetting Jinxy cat, and holds up the stuffed cat he had been holding the whole time. You can watch the entire hilarious clip here:

I love anything Dave Franco does and, after watching this scene, I appreciate Franco's acting chops even more. Now, I'm wondering if he actually mimicked Mark Ruffalo’s voice in that one scene from Now You See Me or if it was a voice over. I wouldn’t be surprised if the former were true, given all the other feats he pulled off in that movie. I’m excited to see him reprise his role as Jack Wilder in the third installment of the NYSM franchise, now set to release in November 2025.

The Little Hours actor was only one of an extremely stacked cast in Neighbors, as it was filled with comedy alums. Zac Efron went on to rave about his other co-stars, as well as comment on several other movies throughout his career. Based on his comments, Efron not only has a firm appreciation for comedy -- he also doesn't mind giving his co-stars their props when they're more than due.

If you feel the need to check out Neighbors or its 2016 now you can buy or rent them on digital platforms. Also, check out Zac Efron's newest film, A Family Affair, which recently premiered amid the 2024 movie schedule and is available to stream with a Netflix subscription. 

Spoiler alert! This story contains minor spoilers about A Family Affair. You can watch the movie with a Netflix subscription.

I’m a big fan of rom-coms, and while I tend to keep a handful of the best romantic comedies in the regular rotation, I also watch a lot of stinkers. We’re all familiar with laundry movies, right? It’s perfectly fine to throw on a flick to occupy your time while you’re cleaning or scrolling social media. So, after reading critics’ reactions to A Family Affair — where they called Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron’s movie with Joey King “lifeless,” “insufferable” and “excruciating” — that's what I thought I'd get, and my expectations were practically non-existent. However, after watching the age-gap comedy, I’m not sure it deserved as much negativity as it got.

Here are a few things I really liked about A Family Affair.

Joey King Has Great Comedic Timing 

I knew who Joey King was going into A Family Affair, but I don’t think I’d actually seen her in anything before this, and I really like her performance.

The comedic timing of her snarky comebacks elevates the character of Zara, in my opinion, to more than just a put-upon employee and disgruntled daughter. Her physical comedy is also impressive, as King really commits to one stunt in particular, resulting in A+ reactions from her co-stars.

Zara is a flawed character, but that shouldn’t be confused with a bad story or a bad performance.

Chris Cole Seems Like Kind Of A Fun Boss 

When I read that Zac Efron plays a self-absorbed Hollywood celebrity who mistreats his assistant Zara, I was picturing Chris Cole as some kind of Miranda Priestly character, some dictator barking out impossible orders at all hours of the day and night.

What I got, though, was a manchild whose worst crime at the beginning of the movie is trying to get Zara to join him in singing Cher’s “Believe” in the car. And at the end of the movie is the revelation that he made her buy surprise birthday gifts for his dogs.

I’ve had worse bosses while making less money, and I know her complaints are more nuanced than the ones listed above, but it's also kind of relatable that Chris just wants to marvel at all the fun cereal in the grocery store. So, I'm not mad at him.

Critics don’t like how Chris evolves so suddenly from a terrible boss to a standup guy, but I don’t think he's ever that bad to begin with.

Kathy Bates And Liza Koshy Kill It With Their Zara Confrontations 

As I already established, Zara makes some mistakes in A Family Affair. She refuses to consider her mom Brooke’s (Nicole Kidman) happiness, yes. However, even more egregious, she is oblivious to the obvious pain her best friend Eugenie (Liza Koshy) is in over her fledgling relationship. Both of those situations come to a head with confrontations that I think are incredibly satisfying.

It’s no surprise that Kathy Bates comes through as Best Grandma Ever in her speech to Zara about Brooke’s new relationship. In the most loving, respectful way ever, she points out that Brooke is more than a mom, she is a woman who deserves happiness. She then tells Zara to grow up, and says if she can't be happy, she better fake it. This kind of "get over yourself" attitude is refreshing.

Eugenie has to take an even harsher approach in pointing out how Zara has been pretty much the crappiest friend, and Joey King’s character deserves every bit of it.

One could argue about the strength of Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron’s chemistry or the statements the movie makes about Hollywood’s more ridiculous proclivities. But suffice it to say, I enjoyed this a lot more than some of the 2024 movie schedule's other offerings (ahem, Mother of the Bride) and just as much as others (The Idea of You).

So if you’ve been eyeing A Family Affair on Netflix’s 2024 TV and movie schedule, don’t let the bad reviews keep you away. You might be surprised too.

Zac Efron rose to fame in the aughts thanks to his role as Tory Bolton in one of the best Disney Channel original movies, High School Musical. His career has only skyrocketed since then, landing him in critically acclaimed movies like The Iron Claw and getting his very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Being as famous as Efron definitely comes with perks, but there are also times the actor wishes he could live a normal life without constantly being stopped and recognized by fans.

His new Netflix film A Family Affair briefly touches on the same negative experiences that come with fame. Efron plays Chris Cole, an action movie star who falls for his longtime assistant’s (Joey King) mother, played by Nicole Kidman. Personality-wise, they might be polar opposites, but Efron shares some common hardships with his character, which served as a talking point during his interview with ETOnline during the red carpet premiere. When asked if there is anything that he wishes he could do without being recognized, Efron said:

Ironically, Efron’s character struggles with the same task in the critically-mixed film and hasn’t stepped foot in a grocery store in years. While most people find grocery shopping a mundane chore, because Chris Cole hasn’t done it for himself in years, he takes a vibrant interest in the errand. He even asks his assistant to tell him what has changed about them (endless Oreo options) and what has stayed the same (the vegetable “shower”).

While it’s unclear if director Richard LaGravenese and writer Carrie Solomon had already included that trait in the script prior to casting Efron, he can’t help but get a kick out of the similarities.

A quick search reveals that the last time Efron was photographed grocery shopping was in 2014, which could mean that he, too, sends an assistant to handle that chore. Given that, it makes sense why he would be so excited that the film’s climatic, romantic gesture scene takes place inside a grocery store. In fact, both the director and the writer shared fond memories with USAToday of Efron and Kidman disappearing between takes to pursue the aisles of the real-life store.

Grocery shopping isn’t the only task Efron wishes he could do with being recognized, though. In June, he told CinemaBlend’s own Sarah El-Mahmoud that he would love to go to an amusement or theme park without being stopped for pictures. Fortunately, the HSM star doesn’t let his fame stop him from doing what he wants — like riding his favorite rollercoaster 12 times in one day.

While it’s unlikely fans will spot Efron in the grocery store anytime soon, they can catch the actor by streaming A Family Affair with an active Netflix subscription.

Zac Efron got his start in the musical theatre side of Hollywood, but across two decades of his career thus far, the actor has proven to have many more tricks up his sleeve than just High School Musical’s Troy Bolton. Heck, he was just part of the 2024’s Oscar season buzz for his role in The Iron Claw. Efron recently spoke to why his role in 2017’s The Greatest Showman brought him back to musicals at a time when he wasn’t “looking for” it.

Efron, of course, broke out in a huge way when he starred in the Disney Channel phenomenon High School Musical when he was 19. The movie would kick off a musical trilogy and lead the actor to also star in the Hairspray remake in the early '00s. But it took the actor a decade before he would put his dancing shoes on for The Greatest Showman again. Here’s why, in his words:

As the actor shared, he was convinced to return to the genre by the movie’s director, Michael Gracey, who actually made his directorial debut with The Greatest Showman. Zac Efron became enraptured in Gracey’s passion for the musical and signed on, even to his own surprise. Efron went on to play a playwright named Phillip Carlyle, and he had the opportunity to work closely with Hugh Jackman and Zendaya, among the movie’s other cast members. Plus, The Greatest Showman was a huge hit, becoming one of the highest-grossing movie musicals ever, per The Wrap.

Efron spoke about The Greatest Showman while looking back at a few key movies from his career with Vanity Fair. Take a look:

The actor’s comments come as his latest movie, A Family Affair, is the most streamed movie right now among those with a Netflix subscription. While at the film’s premiere, Efron told The Hollywood Reporter that he thinks “it’s just a matter of time” before he does another musical. A Family Affair, which pairs Efron with Nicole Kidman (who is also movie musically-inclined), does have a small moment that has Efron singing in the car, but when CinemaBlend spoke to the rom-com’s director, he told us Efron declined singing a musical number in the movie.

While Zac Efron certainly has the musical theatre chops, perhaps it comes down to the right song and moment to bring back his song and dance moves! You can check the actor out in A Family Affair on Netflix now.

A new rom-com was recently released as part of Netflix’s 2024 schedule, with A Family Affair featuring not one but two Academy Award winners in Nicole Kidman and Kathy Bates. Zac Efron also stars, showing off his comedy chops again after Ricky Stanicky. However, it was not any of those veteran actors, but rather 24-year-old Joey King who did the most with her physical comedy. In fact, as King performed a particularly hilarious stunt, Kidman and Efron’s reactions were caught on camera, and they were perfect.

The premise of A Family Affair is that Brooke Harwood (Nicole Kidman) becomes involved with movie star Chris Cole (Zac Efron), whose assistant is her daughter Zara (Joey King). Very minor spoiler here, but near the beginning of the movie, Zara walks in on her mom and her boss in the middle of a tequila-fueled intimate moment, and she has a pretty extreme reaction. Check out the scene below, which Efron shared to Instagram, as well as his and Kidman’s A+ reactions: 

Joey King, ladies and gentlemen! The actress, who portrayed Gypsy-Rose Blanchard in 2019’s The Act and is also known for The Kissing Booth movies (which, like A Family Affair, can be streamed with a Netflix subscription) really gave it her all for this all-important moment. That scream is everything, and even without the thud that would have accompanied her actually slamming into the door frame, I fully bought it as she clumsily fell to the ground. 

Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron were also thoroughly impressed and amused. Joey King’s co-stars can be heard trying to stifle their laughter, with The Iron Claw star turning the camera to show his amusement as he gave her an enthused: 

A giggling Nicole Kidman leaned into the frame to show her approval with a thumbs-up and a proud: 

The young actress herself is then shown walking toward them, joining their laughter as Zac Efron continues to praise her performance by saying it was “so good.” Joey King also got props in the comment section from Liza Koshy, who plays Zara’s best friend Eugenie in the movie. Koshy wrote: 

You’ve got to love the support of a true friend. A Family Affair has stayed at the top of Netflix’s top movies since its release on Friday, but the response to the age-gap rom-com hasn’t been great. A formulaic plot as well as trying to find the balance between Brooke and Zara’s perspectives were listed as dings against the movie, which holds a 42% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an even-worse 33% audience score. (I personally thought the movie was quite amusing, but I am but one woman.) Perhaps the audience would connect with it more if they’d chosen to go with what was apparently the original NSFW title, or if Zac Efron had done a musical number.

If you want to see Joey King’s physical comedy in action, you can stream A Family Affair now on Netflix, one of the best streaming services to subscribe to. 

A recently released entry on Netflix’s 2024 movie schedule has been making waves on the streamer as of late, and it’s a flick by the name of A Family Affair. This film brings together Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Joey King for a breezy tale intended to convey love and generate laughs. Considering the star power that’s attached to the production, it’s no surprise that it’s earning so much attention. I’d argue, however, that it could’ve really turned heads in another way. Both Kidman and Efron (who were perfect for this film, according to the director) recently revealed that their film nearly had a more NSFW title, and I’m honestly glad it was changed. 

What Was A Family Affair Originally Going To Be Called?

It’s no secret that movies can go through a lot of changes throughout the development process and, in many cases, titles end up changing. For instance, at one point, Ridley Scott’s Alien was to be called Star Beast. And Pretty Woman – one of the best romantic comedies of all time – was simply going to be titled $3,000. When it comes to Richard LaGravenese’s A Family Affair, the OG moniker was a bit more blunt. Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman divulged the one-word title as follows: 

Nicole Kidman: Originally, it had a different title. 

Zac Efron: It was called Motherf-----

Kidman: Beeped out. Somehow that didn't make it onto the Netflix title.

That certainly would’ve been a very “distinctive” title for the film and, admittedly, it does roll off the tongue a bit better. But, as the Big Little Lies star mentioned, the streamer just didn’t seem to be that into it. However, it seems that there was a silver lining of sorts when it came to the 2024 new movie release’s original moniker. While he and his co-star spoke to People, Zac Efron went on to explain how the first title affected his decision to join the movie: 

It’s hard to argue with the notion of being an actor and having your interest piqued by a script bearing the title Motherf-----. One could also definitely say that this original name succinctly sums up just what the movie is about. Despite that, I think the right call was made.

Why I’m Not Down For The Film’s Original Title?

A Family Affair tells the story of a young woman (Joey King), who laments working as a personal assistant to an arrogant movie star (Zac Efron). Their uneasy dynamic gets a lot more interesting, however, after the actor strikes up a relationship with his employee’s older mother, (Nicole Kidman). So, on the whole, Motherf----- would’ve been totally apt for this particular production. 

Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with profanity being injected into movie titles (if it suits said production). But I don’t think the one-word title set for this rom-com fits the vibe. This is a mostly lighthearted piece of PG-13 work that’s relatively tame for viewing audiences. The OG name for the flick sounds like something that’s more suitable for an R-rated feature that’s a tad raunchier. 

At the end of the day, we really can’t say for sure just how that name might’ve impacted the reception to A Family Affair, which critics are lukewarm on. However, what I will say is that the marketing for the Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron-led film (which is the No. 1 streaming movie on the platform in the U.S. right now) would’ve been a lot more interesting. You can check out the flick for yourself using an active Netflix subscription.

This weekend’s latest new Netflix original movie A Family Affair shows characters played by Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron falling in love despite the person that connects them being very much opposed to the whole thing. Both Kidman and Efron have proven to have massive range across their careers, but one certainly can’t forget each of their iconic forays into movie musicals. So why didn’t the movie have them sing together? We have the answer.

When CinemaBlend spoke to A Family Affair’s director Richard LaGravenese for the movie’s Los Angeles press day, I had to ask if he even thought about having them duet in the romantic comedy. Here’s how he responded:

Zac Efron earned his fame thanks to his early work in the High School Musical movies, and he starred in other musicals like The Greatest Showman and Hairspray (the latter of which he had a surprising reaction to when we talked about it in our A Family Affair interview). However, in his more recent movies, he has not leaned into his musical roots. Apparently, he wasn’t looking to do so in the new movie either.

Kidman has a few musicals to her name as well. Between Moulin Rouge, The Prom and Nine, the actress and Efron can certainly bond on their musical history. In terms of what LaGravenese wanted the HSM alum to sing, here’s what he had to say:

Jason R. Brown is a musical theatre composer, lyricist and playwright who has won multiple Tony Awards for his work. He has a specific connection to LaGravenese because the filmmaker adapted his musical, The Last Five Years in 2014. It certainly would have been a sweet moment for Efron to sing to Kidman, but perhaps Efron isn’t up for singing these days. Memorably, he did not sing for the High School Musical reunion singalong along with his castmates.

However, Efron does get a little moment to use his vocal cords at the beginning of the film when his actor character, Chris Cole, and Joey King’s Zara, who plays his assistant, are in the car early in the film and he jams to Cher’s “Believe.” As LaGravenese shared, the movie’s writer Carrie Solomon thought up the moment. In his words:

A Family Affair is now streaming for those with a Netflix subscription. You can also check out what critics are saying about the Netflix rom-com.

Nicole Kidman has a lot of coals in the fire right now with upcoming projects including the supernatural comedy sequel Practical Magic 2 and the Apple TV+ adaptation of Margo’s Got Money Troubles. Somehow, though, she’s found time for a rom-com, starring opposite Zac Efron in A Family Affair (available to stream now with a Netflix subscription). So is this one you should be adding to your watch list? Critics had a chance to screen the movie ahead of its release, and it sounds like they’re not feeling the heat from this age-gap romance.

In addition to Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron, A Family Affair stars Joey King as Zara, the personal assistant to Hollywood star Chris Cole (Efron), who discovers that her boss is having an affair with her widowed mother Brooke (Kidman). This story sounds rife with complicated family dynamics, and that’s exactly what Angie Han of THR says. Despite some admitted missteps, the critic finds Efron charming enough, and writes that viewers might be moved by the film’s more tender moments in spite of themselves: 

Other critics, however, were decidedly not moved or charmed by A Family Affair, as Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian says the movie’s hot premise goes cold quickly, with all sexual tension, comedy and irony out the window by the end of the first act. Bradshaw gives it 2 out of 4 stars, saying: 

One critic’s “insufferable” is another critic’s “excruciating,” as Jacob Oller of AV Club grades the movie a brutal D-, calling it completely lifeless, as Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron struggle to show emotion on their “waxen faces.” The lack of character development or believability is compounded by odd choices like having scenes cut in the middle of a joke. Oller writes: 

Samantha Bergesen of IndieWire loves seeing Zac Efron back in the rom-com space but says A Family Affair doesn’t stand up to other recent age-gap romances like The Idea of You or May December, in part because it never chooses a lane to focus on tonally. Bergesen gives the movie a B-, writing: 

Nell Minow of RogerEbert.com gives the movie 2 out of 4 stars, saying Zac Efron and co. fail to improve the stale concept of a dumb, pretty famous type being lonely rather than entitled, and A Family Affair never gets anywhere close to the kind of story that would be worth fantasizing about. Minow continues: 

While A Family Affair shares some of the qualities of some of the best romantic comedies, critics seem to find the Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron relationship lacking. However, if you’ve been enjoying movies with similar themes, feel free to give it a shot and draw your own conclusions. A Family Affair is available to stream now on Netflix, one of the best streaming services available. 

When it comes to the best rom-coms I’ve seen, oftentimes it all comes down to the chemistry between its leading actors. Netflix’s latest entry into the genre enlists perhaps an unlikely pair in A Family Affair. In the project on the 2024 movie schedule, Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron’s characters sneak around behind the back of Joey King’s character, and it turns out these two are rather endearing together! And the movie’s director could see that from day one!

A Family Affair’s director Richard Lagravenese has a knack for movies with great pairings, between 2007’s P.S. I Love You to 2014’s The Last Five Years. Here’s what he shared with CinemaBlend when I asked him why Kidman and Efron were the perfect pair for the new Netflix release:

Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman actually worked together over a decade prior on 2012’s The Paperboy, but it was under much different circumstances than a romantic comedy. The Lee Daniels movie was a crime drama set in the '60s that definitely doesn’t have a happy ending for the pair.

As Lagravenese observed, Efron and Kidman’s chemistry was apparent to him from the first day working with them, which makes sense.

A Family Affair has Zac Efron playing an actor named Chris Cole who Joey King’s Zara is the assistant to. When Zara gets furiously up-to-here with Chris’ treatment of her, she quits, leading him to show up on her doorstep in hopes of getting her back. But when he does, he instead meets Kidman’s Brooke Hargrove (Zara’s mom), who he immediately gets enraptured with. During the interview, Lagravenese shared what scene he chose to have the actors work against each other for the first time on A Family Affair:

Given the pair’s nearly 20-year age gap along with the movie’s focus on celebrity, it’s sure to draw some comparisons to Amazon’s The Idea Of You. When I asked the director his thoughts about the two movies coming out in the same year, he said this:

Nicole Kidman certainly is ageless. Did you see her with Joey King at the A Family Affair premiere? As the movie leads Chris and Brooke to sneak behind Zara’s back, a lovely romance forms, and truly I found myself believing and rooting for this new Hollywood coupling!

A Family Affair hits Netflix on June 28. You can also check out what Zac Efron told CinemaBlend when I asked him about what roles he gets stopped about (hint: I was not expecting what he had to say about Hairspray)!

Make sure you have a Peacock subscription because you won't want to miss The Traitors Season 3. The cast list for the competition reality show set in the Scottish Highlands was recently released, and on that list was the sibling of another famous face, Zac Efron's brother Dylan. So, of course someone talked to Zac about this development. 

Following the announcement that Dylan would be taking part in the show, Zac spoke to ET at the premiere for A Family Affair, his new Netflix film starring Nicole Kidman and Joey King. While there, people did not just want to know about the movie. In fact, Zac was asked about The Traitors and how he thinks Dylan will fare on the show.

If you’re not up to speed on The Traitors, here’s an overview. The show takes a group of 20 or more celebrities and puts them inside a Scottish castle. There, host Alan Cumming anonymously chooses several houseguests to be traitors, and the rest become known as faithfuls. It is the duty of the traitors to eliminate the faithfuls one by one without being caught. If they do so, they will win the prize, in this case $250,000. 

While the traitors are responsible for taking out the faithfuls, the faithfuls must also sniff out the traitors and have the opportunity to banish one at each roundtable meeting. All the contestants compete in challenges to earn the full prize pot. There’s lying, backstabbing, drama, and overall great fun, but you need to be competitive to really engage in this game.

When asked about the brothers’ competitive side, Zac added that Dylan has always had a knack for games. 

So, who is Dylan? Well, according to his Instagram, which has an impressive 867,000 followers, he enjoys being outside and traveling the world. Dylan has followed in Zac’s footsteps and has some experience in the entertainment biz, although he's mostly been behind the camera as an assistant or producer and has worked with his famous brother on Down To Earth. 

Joining Dylan in the castle is a cast of exciting characters from across the media landscape. He will be competing alongside Sam Asghari, aka Britney Spears’ ex-husband, Dorinda Medley from The Real Housewives of New York City, Bob the Drag Queen from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Britney Haynes from CBS’ Big Brother, just to name a few. 

To be completely honest, I did not know that Dylan had a brother prior to him being cast on the show, but I’m interested to see if he’s anything like his High School Musical star brother and how he will shake up the castle. 

Zac Efron’s latest role in Netflix’s A Family Affair has The Iron Claw star playing a fictional actor whom the public cannot get enough of. In one scene, his character, Chris Cole, is stopped in the midst of his assistant getting medical care by the doctor after she walks in on her boss getting intimate with her mother (played by Nicole Kidman). The medical professional gets completely sidetracked by Cole being there and stops to ask him how he did a specific scene in one of his movies. Of course, Efron must deal with this all the time!

So when I sat down with the actor and his co-star Joey King, I asked them what they have gotten stopped for that perhaps they were not expecting. Here’s how the answer played out:

Zac: “I think yeah, anything from when you're a lot younger. It's funny 'cause you like have to go back there in your mind.”

Joey: “Do people talk about 17 Again?”

Zac: “Yeah…”

Joey: “I thought it was special.”

Zac: “I mean that was such a fun experience to work with. Matthew Perry of course was magical and a lot of people wanna know what John Travolta was like for Hairspray.

Joey: [Goes into impression of him] “And, I am Link!”

Zac: “I think I did that like a hundred times.”

Joey: “I love it so much.”

Zac: “That was so fun. Such a dork.”

Joey: “No, it’s my favorite every time. It's so funny, literally when that movie came out, I screamed when you did that. I was like ‘Ah!’”

Zac: "Aw, you made my day."

A “dork”? Excuse me?!!? Much like myself, Joey King grew up at a time when Zac Efron was the heartthrob of heartthrobs. It, of course, started with the phenomenon of the High School Musical movies and continued to grow as he booked more Hollywood roles.

Efron shared that the “deep cut” references that people come up to him about that often shock him have to do with what he did in his younger years, because at this point, that was a long time ago for him. But I’m absolutely shocked that the actor thinks of himself as a “dork” and actually hid his face in embarrassment over mention of the role. It goes to show that no matter who you are, we’re all dealing with our own stories in our heads about not being good enough. That being said, it was funny to see Efron cringe a tad about his younger self, because don’t we all?

Joey King jumped in to ask if asking about 17 Again is popular, which definitely seemed to be the case. It also feels like following the death of Matthew Perry last year, more people, including himself, treasure that film. As Efron pointed out, he’s approached quite a bit for his role in 2007’s Hairspray, particularly for co-starring in one of John Travolta’s best movies. I think a rewatch of Hairspray is in order!

You can stream A Family Affair with a Netflix subscription starting June 28. Check out what other Netflix movie and TV show releases dates are headed our way this summer.

Some people like roller coasters, while some people are obssessed with roller coasters. And then there’s Zac Efron, who loves one particular coaster so much that he rode it 12 times in one day. The actor revealed that love during an interview with CinemaBlend. And, interestingly enough, his A Family Affair co-star, Joey King, who recently stunned at the film's premiere also loves it, even though it apparently makes her blackout.

In the upcoming Netflix movie A Family Affair, Zac Efron plays a celebrity who laments that his fame prevents him from doing many activities normal people do. Efron and Joey King both have the same problem, and they told CinemaBlend’s Sarah El-Mahmoud that if they could do anything without being recognized it would be to visit an amusement park or theme park. The leading man says that when hitting a park he goes for the most thrilling experience first, which his co-star found shocking…

• Zac Efron: The biggest, best drop.
• Joey King: Really? You start there. You don't build to that? … That's weird.
• Efron: I'm trying to get brain damage.

Fame or not, both actors are frequent visitors to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California. They know it well and it's a must for any true roller coaster fan. Actors like them and even Kylie Jenner tend to visit Magic Mountain almost as often as celebrities like John Stamos and Jodie Sweetin visit Disneyland. Magic Mountain itself has been in many films standing in for other fictional theme parks (which I'd visit if possible).

Both stars have a particular affinity for the same coaster, the Goliath. While the 20-year-old attraction is far from cutting edge today, it was the fastest closed-circuit coaster, with the longest ever drop when it was built and, even two decades later, it's a harrowing experience for many. 

Joey King apparently loves the fact that it gets extreme, as she says she blacks out on the ride, which is why it’s a favorite. But there’s another coaster that does the same to her:

• King: Goliath is a fave because I black out every single time on Goliath. When I go in that little turn. But you know what else I black out on every time I go on it, and it doesn't make any sense because it's not like any G related… I don't know. It's the Batman ride.
• Efron: Yeah, that one sneaks up on you!

Zac Efron loves the Goliath so much that once, and another anecdote proves that. He says that once, when he had the assistance of the park to avoid being hassled (which also let him jump the queue), he did the coaster a dozen times in a single day. The result was pretty much what you’d expect:

• Efron: I think I did Goliath 12 times in one day on a trip, because we had the front-of-the-line guy.
• King: And that's why he is the way he is now.
• Efron: I’ve never been the same since. My brain's fully to the left. It ended up being a short day because we had done Goliath 12 times and I got so sick.

Hitting an amusement park with these two sounds like it would be a blast, though I'm not sure I could handle their level of extreme. Regardless, kudos to them for their thrill-seeking ways! And if you want to see the actors in a less stressful context, be sure you have a Netflix subscription so that you can stream A Family Affair when it drops on June 28 as part of the 2024 movie schedule.

Rob Lowe was an iconic ‘80s movie actor who made a name for himself on the big screen as a total heartthrob. After The Outsiders launched this A-lister’s career, he went on to be part of The Brat Pack films and then transitioned to have a prominent television career with shows like The West Wing, Parks and Recreation, and 9-1-1: Lone Star. He's had a career deserving of a biopic, and if he were to pick anyone to portray him in one, Zac Efron would be his prime choice. As I’m a huge fan of the two, this perfect casting has blown my mind!

Rob Lowe sat down with his son, John Owen Lowe, in an ET interview where he asked his dad who should play him in a biopic (that is, of course, if it’s “off the table” for his own son). Here was the Parks and Rec actor’s answer:   

I couldn’t have picked a better actor myself. In fact, my mind was blown by how I didn't think of this choice casting before. 

Zac Efron came onto the film scene as a total heartthrob himself. Due to one of the best childhood DCOMs, High School Musical, you can bet on it (ignore the pun) that Efron’s face was on posters hung in the bedrooms of a lot of children in the 2000s. Like Rob Lowe, the Baywatch actor has been in a lot of movies that have shown off his impressive abs and physique. As they both share bright blue eyes too, they truly do have an incredible resemblance. 

Other than Zac Efron bearing a fairly striking likeness to the ‘80s idol, we’ve also seen the former Disney actor in powerful performances that show he’s bigger than High School Musical. As Rob Lowe said, Efron received high praise for his performance in The Iron Claw as Kevin Von Erich which proves he can handle not only the physical grunt work that comes with looking the part physically, but the emotional aspects the character carries too.

Even though Rob Lowe thinks that Zac Efron would be perfect to play himself, his son and Unstable co-star John Owen Lowe seems to think otherwise. The 28-year-old actor laughed at the idea of his father pitching for The Greatest Showman actor to play him, believing Efron would refuse. 

I’d like to believe the Neighbors actor would be open to the idea of playing The West Wing actor. After all, the HSM alum was touched when he found out Matthew Perry wanted Efron to play him too. With the amount of range the 36-year-old actor has shown lately, I think he could play anything he set his mind to.

After Rob Lowe requested that Zac Efron play him in a biopic, consider my mind officially blown. Those two came into the Hollywood scene as dreamy idols and transitioned into adult roles that further defined their careers. With Lowe’s choice being the perfect casting, we need this biopic to happen. 

However, while we wait for that dream to become reality, you can look at our 2024 movie schedule to see what the actors are releasing next. 

It was not until Dev Patel tried his hand at writing and directing a feature film, Monkey Man, when he finally became the star of his own action movie. His turn as a man on a vengeful mission against corruption in the thriller, which is being likened to John Wick, is really a long time coming, since plenty of the Academy Award nominee’s credits have incorporated elements of the genre. Yet, the 2024 movie release marks the first time he has been the lead of this particular kind of film.

The former Skins cast member is not the only one who has the talent and the experience that warrants action movie stardom, but has yet to receive top billing for one. Hopefully, the following actors I have compiled below do not need to write or direct their own high-paced, thrill-a-minute blockbuster to cross that off their bucket list one day.

Alan Ritchson

At 6’2” and 230 pounds, Alan Ritchson was the perfect choice to lead the Amazon Prime original TV show, Reacher, and would be the perfect choice to lead any action franchise you throw at him. He may have nabbed a supporting role in Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, but I am still waiting to see his face on the majority of a poster. Maybe another Jack Reacher movie, starring him this time?

Zoë Kravitz

Having appeared in multiple comic book movies (including X-Men first class), leading an intriguing, paranoia-fueled Neo-Noir (2022’s Kimi), and showing up in one of the greatest action movies of all time (2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road), it is only a matter of time when Zoë Kravitz plays the central hero of her own contribution to the genre. I actually would not mind if the action film she receives top-billing for saw her reprise her great Catwoman portrayal from The Batman in a spin-off. 

Zac Efron

It is actually hard to believe that, despite being one of Hollywood's most versatile leading men, Zac Efron has yet to headline an action movie. He has done pretty much everything else you could imagine — including musicals (his breakout role in Disney Channel’s High School Musical, of course), sports biopics (the acclaimed 2023 A24 movie, The Iron Claw), and even a “brutal” post-apocalyptic thriller (2022’s Gold) — so what is stopping him from kicking some ass?

Maika Monroe

Having starred in creepy modern classics like It Follows and Watcher, Maika Monroe is easily one of our most talented horror movie Scream Queens — a title she will continue to honor by leading the new, disturbing detective thriller, Longlegs. Could playing an FBI agent in that upcoming 2024 movie bring her one-step closer to fulfilling her action star destiny? Because, as far as I am concerned, she already proved she was worthy by developing a, sort of, “gruff badass” persona for her role in the 2015 alien invasion movie, The 5th Wave.

Austin Butler

Austin Butler proved he was a movie star with his Academy Award-nominated performance in Elvis, but that could not prepare audiences for his surprisingly intimidating turn as the ruthless Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part Two. It makes me wanna see how intimidating he could be as a hero, or even anti-hero similar to his role in the upcoming The Bikeriders, which looks pretty intense. Perhaps all these recent performances will get some action filmmaker’s attention soon. 

Zendaya

Speaking of Dune: Part Two cast members, the one who really steals the show in the second half of Denis Villeneuve’s Frank Herbert adaptation is Zendaya as Chani, who should be considered the true hero of the story if you understand the author’s true intentions with Paul Atreides’ arc. Of course, the Emmy-winning Euphoria cast member still, understandably, got second billing under Timothée Chalamet, but the powerful acting and stellar fight choreography she demonstrates in the sci-fi blockbuster absolutely warrants a grand-scale epic of her own.

LaKeith Stanfield

Here is another example of an actor who has shown astonishing versatility in his eclectic filmography so far — including some acclaimed comedies (such as Sorry to Bother You), some great horror movies (his scene-stealing Get Out role), and a mix of both (Disney’s Haunted Mansion). However, whenever Academy Award nominee LaKeith Stanfield has been cast in an action flick (namely The Girl in the Spider’s Web and Netflix’s original Western movie, The Harder They Fall), it has never been in the lead role.

Jamie Chung

Here is another example of an actor whose action-oriented roles have either been supporting parts in movies (such as The Man with the Iron Fists or The Misfits), stints on TV shows (such as 2008’s Samurai Girl or Fox’s Gifted), or even voice acting roles (like in Big Hero 6). Come to think of it, I think that Jamie Chung’s career as a whole thus far has been pretty underrated, so hopefully the chance to be the next great female action hero comes her way soon.

Aldis Hodge

Aldis Hodge actually has an interesting connection to the action genre, having starred in two Die Hard movies: Die Hard with a Vengeance and A Good Day to Die Hard — the latter of which marked his acting debut as a child. After putting that experience to good use with a portrayal of Hawkman that is the best thing about Black Adam, in my opinion, I am certainly hoping to see him soar higher in this realm, whether that means leading a superhero movie of his own or something more grounded.

Katy O'Brian

Am I the only one who takes one look at Katy O’Brian and sees an action movie star waiting to be born? Following her breakout film role in Love Lives Bleeding, the bodybuilder and Mandalorian actor is more than ready to lead something with a speedier pace on the big screen.

Bill Hader

I bet you did not expect a former SNL cast member to appear on this list, but I think Bill Hader might even be the most deserving one here. His role as a hitman seeking an acting career on Barry proved that he has some astonishing range, and his participation in the HBO series' more action-oriented sequences also shows he could do well in something like a grizzled detective role, a la John McClane.

Could any of these stars become the next Bruce Willis or Charlize Theron? Trigger fingers crossed.