High School Musical

We've reported this before, but such great news is worth repeating.

It's now 100% official that the entire cast is coming back for High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman and Lucas Grabeel have all inked contracts to reprise their beloved roles in the franchise.

Tisdale says she looks forward to returning to East High set in Utah one last time.

"I'm excited," she said. "But it's going to be sad. It seems like it will be graduation and I'll be crying while we're filming."

Meanwhile, here are brief High School Musical spoilers about the plot of the film:

High school seniors Troy [Zac Efron] and Gabriella [Vanessa Hudgens] face the prospect of being separated from one another as they in different directions to college. Joined by the rest of the Wildcat crew, they stage an elaborate spring musical reflecting their experiences, hopes and fears about their future.

The film is scheduled for an October 24 release. Mark your calendars!

Granted, Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron and Lucas Grabeel could watch grass grow in High School Musical 3 and the movie would make billions.

But here's the actual synopsis, courtesy of Hudgens herself:

"It's senior year," the actress said, "so there's going to be graduation and prom!"

Ashley, Vanessa and Zac share a High School Musical hug.

Added High School Musical 3 director Kenny Ortega: "All of the original cast will be back. [But] I have a feeling this will be the end [for the current stars]. This franchise may move to another generation!"

Does that mean Miley Cyrus could be starring in High School Musical 4?!?

In a recent interview with USA Today, multiple stars from High School Musical talked about their holiday wish list. Let's see what these young stars had to say....

Lucas Grabeel (pictured)
On his wish list: "A package of guitar picks. I'm always losing them."
A favorite holiday tradition: "I'm always in a different country for Christmas, so I'm always adapting to traditions abroad."
His hope for Ryan in High School Musical 3: "That he takes a break from dance steps. Maybe join the basketball team and shoot the winning goal. That would be fabulous."

Corbin Bleu
On his wish list: "New CDs. Dropkick Murphys and White Snake would be cool."
A favorite holiday tradition: "I'm half Italian, so we've got to make ricotta balls. They're ricotta, wrapped in a dough that's fried and covered in cinnamon sugar."
His hope for Chad in High School Musical 3: "He was saving up for his dream car last time, so I hope he gets a Mustang."

Monique Coleman
On her wish list: "I'm having a regifting party because of all the gifting suites we go to. You get cameras, iPods, hair products, so I'm going to invite everyone over to my house."
A favorite holiday tradition: "Grandmama's pumpkin pie."
Her hope for Taylor in High School Musical 3: "To travel the world with Chad."

Zac Efron
On his wish list: "I'm constantly breaking things, and I go through skateboards pretty fast. So a new Sector 9 Longboard would be nice."
A favorite holiday tradition: "I always help pick out a natural, chopped-down-in-the-woods tree, so our whole house starts to smell like Christmas."
His hope for Troy in High School Musical 3: "To win another basketball game â€" maybe even nationals."

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Fans of High School Musical can fill up on all the turkey and stuffing they want this Thanksgiving - they won't be leaving their sofas very often this week anyway.

On Friday night, the Disney Channel will be showing the original movie that spawned the careers of Zac Efron, Vanesa Hudgens and company.

Then, at 8 p.m., the pop-up version of High School Musical 2 will premiere, complete with will on-screen trivia and secrets about the film (such as the lame original title of "You Are the Music in Me").

As for High School Musical 3, Ashley Tisdale recently said that rehearsals begin in February and filming starts in March.

Finally, High School Musical 2 will be released on DVD on December 11. Got all that, everyone?!?

Nude photo scandal behind her, Vanessa Hudgens is focused on one thing: that gorgeous backside of boyfriend Zac Efron.

Oh, and she's also psyched to get started on High School Musical 3.

"I am so very excited," Hudgens told People magazine backstage at Sunday's American Music Awards in L.A., when asked about returning for the film. "To do a third one for the big screen, I can't begin to think how much fun we'll have."

The actress said that although "only a few people have actually signed the contracts ... We're all definitely on board."

Yes, folks, that includes co-stars Ashley Tisdale, Monique Coleman and Corbin Bleu. We can't wait to report more details about the movie as they become available.

Sorry, teenage guys: No Vanessa Hudgens naked or Ashley Tisdale nude pics here.

But we do have shots of the young stars backstage at the 2007 American Music Awards last night.

In the press room, these two joined fellow High School Musical alums Ryne Sanborn, Kaycee Stroh, and Monique Coleman to pose with their award for Favorite Soundtrack Album.

Ashley Tisdale recently spoke with OK! about her upcoming movie, Picture This, as well as the ones fans are truly looking forward to: High School Musical 3.

Do you want to focus more on acting or singing now?
It's all about balancing it out I think. At first it was really, really hard when I was doing High School Musical 2 and when my album released. That was very hard to balance. But I think that you just find time and they're both equally important to me.

I'm focusing on my music right now �" I just did the tour and now I'm going start my second album.

But I'm set to do High School Musical 3 in February so then I'll be going back to my acting. So I think it's just a balancing act.

Is it difficult when you know that what you're wearing might appear in a magazine?
Yeah, you have to think about it. A lot of my friends prefer to be followed all the time by the paparazzi; I'm so glad I don't have that all the time. I want to be known for what I'm working on, not where I'm hanging out.

Who needs Zac Efron?

Performing without their cutest cast member, the stars of High School Musical brought a a bit of holiday music to Disneyland Saturday as they taped a segment for the Christmas Day parade.

Who is your favorite: Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens or Corbin Bleu?

Great news, High School Musical fans: Two of your favorite actresses are signed up for High School Musical 3!

According to Us Weekly, both Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens will reprise their roles in the follow-up, with the latter even receiving a "substantial increase" in pay.

"Vanessa is locked for the movie," a High School Musical source tells Us. "She is very happy that the deal is done."

So are numerous fans, who can also rejoice over the fact that Zac Efron is reportedly also signed for the film.

"The contract will be signed within the next week," a Hudgens source says. "It is almost a done deal."

Hudgens' naked picture scandal - maybe you heard about it - led to reports that either Adrienne Bailon and Sabrina Bryan would replace Vanessa in the franchise.

High School Musical 3, the first in the hit movie series to be a theatrical release, is set to begin shooting in January 2008.

Co-stars Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman are also in final negotiations, according to their publicist.

OK! magazine is reporting that things are far from okay for Vanessa Hudgens.

The celebrity gossip tabloid says this young star's nude photo scandal will cost her a spot in High School Musical 3.

"Disney finally decided that they don't want her back," says an insider. "They feel that as long as Zac Efron is in the movie, all will be fine. He's the real star �" the household name �" and, most importantly, he comes without baggage."

But with dashing good looks!

If Hudgens isn't asked back, rumors say that Cheetah Girls Adrienne Bailon or Sabrina Bryan are likely replacements.

"The producers think that after Dancing With the Stars, Sabrina will be more famous than Vanessa," the source said.

We're not sure about that. Even if Bryan wins the reality competition, ask yourself who is better known right now, past Dancing with the Stars champions or celebrities that get naked a lot?

Think more people know of Drew Lachey or Tila Tequila?