We're really excited about the fact Zac Efron is expanding his acting horizons, and news of his recently acquired role is putting us over the top. The Hollywood Reporter got the tip that Zac is attached to star and produce the remake of the 2010 Swedish crime drama "Snabba Cash."
The film is based on the novel by Jens Lapidus, and is a thriller that follows three storylines involving drugs and organized crime. Zac will play the main character; a young man hoping to get rich quick by becoming a drug runner for a coke dealer. You don't see too much drug smuggling in "High School Musical" or "17 Again."
The plot marks a striking parallel to another recent film: "Twelve," starring Chace Crawford. But while we (and many others) mocked Chace for playing so safe to the typical "Gossip Girl" storylines, we're giving Zac his kudos for taking the risk. "Charlie St. Cloud," his edgier flick, hasn't had a chance to meet the general public, but early talk says he actually does a pretty good job in it.
Add that to the fact that the "Snabba Cash" remake is a very hot commodity, and you have the new Zac Efron. When the original Swedish version debuted at the Berlin Film Festival, many studios and producers fought over the rights to the film until Warner Bros. finally picked it up. According to THR, the deal has a "short fuse" clause that means if WB sits on the project for too long, the film rights will go back to the producers.
This also marks the first acquisition Zac has made as a producer. He and manager Jason Barrett started a WB-based production company he created recently. WB actually bought the remake rights specifically for Zac, so we're excited he is moving in an entirely different direction from "HSM," "Hairspray" and "17 Again."
What do you think about the new image Zac is creating for himself? Are you glad he is moving into more serious roles?
** Hollywood Crush Twitter