By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith Teen heartthrob Zac Efron tells us that although his summer movie "Hairspray" will be fun, he's looking forward to fans seeing him transition into a more grown-up film. "I love that 'Hairspray' definitely involves my audience, but it's got some edgier humor. I couldn't have asked for a better project in terms of branching out," says Efron, who also has "High School Musical 2" premiering in August.
"It just brought back all of those skills that I once possessed when I was doing musical theater." The young star, who's soon to be leaving his teen days behind him, says his Disney sequel is also a bit more mature. "If the first movie was compared to 'Grease,' this should be compared to 'Dirty Dancing,' " he says.
As for life beyond these summer releases, Efron says he plans to team up with New Line once again. "We're sort of developing a project with New Line called 'Seventeen.' It's a very fun comedy that I'd love to be a part of.
We're trying to find a director." In the meantime, with the "Hairspray" Hollywood premiere coming up tonight in advance of the picture's July 20 opening, Zac tells us he's just enjoying the good things that acting is bringing his way. "This has been my hobby my whole life.
I feel really lucky to be making movies and calling it a job." Not wanting to be typecast as an actor who only plays superheroes, last year's 'it' guy, Brandon Routh of "Superman Returns," tells us he has recently turned his attention towards the indie film world. "My fiancée, Courtney (Ford), and I just got done shooting a film together in Kansas City.
It's an independent film called 'Lie to Me,' which I trust will be making it to Sundance," he says of the flick expected to hit theatres sometime next year. I come back into her life and disrupt the relationship that she's in now. Meanwhile, there's the already much-discussed Superman sequel reportedly to be called "Man of Steel" for 2009 release in which Routh and Kevin Spacey (arch villain Lex Luthor) are expected to reprise their roles.
As far as any other comic book adventures coming his way, Routh responds, "I'll just stick with Superman." star Matt Dallas says "Babysitter Wanted," the upcoming horror film he has in the can, was a welcome change of pace. "It's quite a different role than Kyle XY," says Dallas, who plays the young man found in the forest naked, sans belly button and memory, on the ABC Family Channel's breakout hit from last season.
"Kyle XY is such an extremely unique character, so it was fun to step out of that and play someone who's normal, who actually has a background and a place that he comes from." Dallas says "Babysitter Wanted" is "a beautifully shot movie, which is ironic because it is a horror film. But it's not so much a slasher film as it is psychological.
It messes with your mind a little bit more. I saw a rough cut of it, and it looks really good." Teen heartthrob Devon Werkheiser reports he expects to have his debut CD out hopefully by the end of the year.
I've been working on the album writing every day and recording. The former star of Nickelodeon's Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, has signed a deal with Universal for the new CD he describes as pop/rock, kind of like the Goo Goo Dolls and Third Eye Blind, but with acoustic guitar. I play the guitar and I'm co-writing all the songs.
He adds, I'm writing about a little bit of everything ...
songs about girls, one of my songs is about my sister and my family. I want to make songs that would kind of make kids feel good about just standing up for yourself and being confident and not worrying what other kids think. The actor says singing has always been a passion of mine, but it's a whole new animal from the TV business.
I love doing it, and it's really cool that because of the acting I've been able to do it. Meanwhile, Werkheiser says he'll take time out from working on the new CD to do The Greatest Escape. It's a big summer camp movie, and Mitchel Musso ("Hannah Montana") will play my brother in it.
We get sent to the wrong camp and have to escape. Pamela Anderson, Jeremy Piven and the very hot Robin Thicke are expected to be on hand at the unveiling of the Playboy Legacy Collection taking place July 19 at The Celebrity Vault in Beverly Hills. They'll be joining such other celebs as Jenny McCarthy, Deirdre Hall, Steve Tyrell and Sheryl Lee Ralph to get a gander at the most popular icons to ever appear in Playboy shot by such celebrity photographers such as David LaChappelle, Pompeo Posar, Tom Kelley and Bert Stern including Bettie Page, Marilyn Monroe and, of course, Pamela Anderson.
Oh, and yes, Playboy founder/babe magnate Hugh Hefner will also be on hand or make that eight hands since he's always surrounded by at least four Playboy bunnies at all times. With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster.
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