Upcoming Live-Action Disney Movies: Remakes From Aladdin To Cruella

Upcoming Live-Action Disney Movies: Remakes From Aladdin To Cruella

Disney made its name producing animated features based on classic fairy tales. Today the company is making a killing with new live-action versions of its original classic stories. After producing more than 50 animated feature films, the studio certainly has plenty of material to draw from. In fact, there are a lot of potential live-action films in various stages of production based on previous Disney content. Not everything is based on animation, but each one is a return to a classic story from the history of Disney. 

Some of these films are confirmed with release dates, while others have only been reported to be in development and may never see the light of day, but between theatrical releases and the upcoming Disney+ streaming service, there's a good chance we'll see many of these projects eventually. Here's a look at every single one of them you should be looking out for.

Aladdin

Release Date: May 24, 2019

As strange as a Tim Burton-directed Dumbo movie sounded, a Guy Ritchie-directed Disney musical sounds even odder, though that's what we're going to get. Ritchie directing Aladdin in what will be a musical that will follow in the footsteps of Beauty and the Beast. Will Smith will step into the shoes of Robin Williams and play Genie while relative newcomer Mena Massoud will take on the title role and Naomi Scott will play Jasmine. While we expect most of the classic songs from the animated original to return, the movie will also include new music from the pair behind La La Land and The Greatest Showman.

The Lion King

Release Date: July 19, 2019

Shortly after Jon Favreau's Jungle Book became a hit, a sequel was greenlit. Shortly after that, The Lion King was announced. We're guessing that the Academy Award-winning effects of Jungle Book proved to Disney that CGI animals were realistic enough to carry a movie, meaning the studio was now willing to risk their crown jewel of the entire animation catalog. The Lion King is still one of Disney's most successful animated films ever, and a bad remake could spell disaster, but a GOOD one could be one of the biggest movies ever made. The cast includes the likes of Donald Glover as Simba, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, and a returning James Earl Jones as Mufasa, because literally nobody could do it better.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

Release Date: October 18, 2019

Maleficent was a huge box office success and so following that with a sequel was a likely bet. Angelina Jolie reportedly signed to make a sequel some time ago, but apparently without a specific plan, as the project then when quiet for years. However, once that changed, everything moved into high gear. Once it was confirmed that Maleficent 2 was, in fact, happening, the movie went right into production and recently wrapped principal photography. Joachim Rønning, the director of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales took on the directorial duties. Originally set for an early 2020 release, the movie was then bumped up and will open in the fall of 2019.

Lady and the Tramp

Release Date: November 12, 2019

Possibly one of the more surprising additions to this list is Lady and the Tramp. Most of the film's major roles, both human and animal have been cast, including Justin Theroux as the Tramp and Tessa Thompson as Lady. What makes this movie unique is that you won't be able to see it at your local cineplex, the plan is for the film to debut on Disney's upcoming streaming service, Disney+. The service will be available beginning November 12 2019 and Lady and the Tramp has been confirmed to be a day one release.

Mulan

Release Deate: March 27, 2020

While Mulan was announced before many of the projects on this list, some difficulties finding a director caused the production to be delayed. Originally scheduled for November 2018, the movie is now set for March of 2020. Whale Rider director Niki Caro is on board to direct the entirely Asian cast including Yifei Liu as Mulan. While the Disney animated movie dealt with an attack by a Hun army, casting has revealed a very different group of villains, with Gong Li being brought in to play a witch character as the main antagonist, a very different direction for the live-action version is expected.

Cruella

Release Date: December 23, 2020

Disney started the live-action remake train by taking a different perspective on a classic Disney villain. Maleficent was a huge hit and odds are that's the sort of success the studio will be looking for with Cruella. The film will stand as an apparent prequel to 101 Dalmatians and introduce the character of Cruella de Vile. Emma Stone is on board to star, and while we heard little more than rumors about this project for the last few years, the film now has an official release date, so it will likely be going into production soon.

The Sword in the Stone

A remake of The Sword in the Stone is another Disney project that was announced, with Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman on board to pen the script, and then it seemed to fade away. Then it was announced that 28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo would direct the project and that it, like Lady and Tramp, would be a project for the new Disney streaming service rather than theatrical release. Things have gone quiet again since then, but considering the number of projects Disney is working on to bolster its upcoming service, it seems like it's only a matter of time before this one goes into production as well.

The Little Mermaid

With plans to make adaptations of Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, it's not shocking that The Little Mermaid was added to the list as it was the film that kicked down the door for Disney's resurgence in animation 30 years ago. If there's a single thing pointing toward this project making it to the screen, it's the fact that the hottest name in music, Lin-Manuel Miranda, is attached to work on the film's songs along with Disney mainstay Alan Menken. Miranda loves the film so much that he named his son Sebastian. This one will be a labor of love for the man behind Hamilton. Mary Poppins Returns director Rob Marshall is reportedly on board to direct this film as well, and rumors have linked Zendaya with the lead role but nothing has been confirmed. Miranda posted an image of himself composer Alan Menken that included some Little Mermaid song lyrics in April of 2019, seemingly indicting this one is very much still active.

The Jungle Book 2

The original animated version of The Jungle Book had a fairly definitive ending, and even that didn't prevent a sequel from being made. The live-action version left itself open for sequels, and after the box office that it obtained, you can be sure that sequels there will be. With director Jon Favreau busy with The Lion King, Jungle Book 2 will be waiting until at least after that movie has been completed to really get moving. Screenwriter Justin Marks has indicated the story of the sequel may include ideas that were conceived for the original animated movie that never made it into the final product.

Prince Charming

This one is something of a wild card in the Disney schedule. The original script wasn't commissioned by Disney, meaning that it wasn't specifically written with any of the studio's trademark style. However, since then the project has brought on Beauty and the Beast writer Stephen Chbosky who is apparently working on a script that would focus on Prince Charming's brother. Chbosky has likened his take to The Princess Bride , which is certainly something most of us can probably get behind. This one feels like it may end up on the streaming service as well, though nothing has been officially announced.

Tink

Reese Witherspoon was reportedly on board a live action movie focused on Peter Pan's sidekick Tinkerbell some time ago  although, like several of these ideas, the movie hasn't gone anywhere recently. Tinkerbell has actually become one of Disney's most popular characters in recent years thanks to a series of home entertainment released films, so there's a good chance that this one will come together eventually as the character certainly has a lot of fans. Still, this one has been quiet for a long time, so it's possible this project may need a lot of clapping to bring it back to life.

Night on Bald Mountain

Disney's Fantasia contained animated shorts combined with classical music. One of the most memorable sequences was the animation that accompanied Modest Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain." Now, Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless who co-wrote the scripts for Dracula Untold and The Last Witch Hunter together are reportedly working on a script that would turn the winged demon from that brief animation into the focus of a full-length motion picture. The lack of any serious narrative in the animated short would give the screenwriters the freedom to create almost anything, which could be good, or could be bad.

Pinocchio

The tale of the wooden boy who wants to be a real one was Disney's second animated feature and the Oscar-winning "When You Wish Upon a Star" has become the unofficial theme song for the entire company. Seeing a live-action version of this story was only a matter of time. The original feature wasn't without its opportunities for action or even horror, which means this could get a truly exciting remake. We're sure we'd get a CGI Jiminy Cricket out of this one. The only question is whether our title character is an actual boy or a computer-generated one, in order to make sequences like donkey transformation easier. Sam Mendes was in talks to direct the film at one point but he eventually left the project. Next, Paddington director Paul King was attached, but then he pulled out as well. It seems this project is now on hold, so it could be some time before we see it, if ever.

Rose Red

Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves has become such an iconic film that for many it is the ultimate version of the fairy tale. However, the movie has become so well known that most probably don't even know that in the original version of the story, Snow White had a sister, Rose Red. There are plans to rectify that however with a movie that would focus on the character in a story that would pick up after Snow White fell asleep and followed her as she tried to find a way to wake up her sister. While no actresses are attached to play the leading role, one rumor indicated Brie Larson could play Snow White in the film

Peter Pan

Pete's Dragon wasn't a huge Disney success but it was no slouch either. The team behind that film has now been tasked with working on a live-action version of Peter Pan. It's not clear if this film will be in any way connected to the Tinkerbell movie that Disney is also working on. Live action Peter Pan movies have been less than successful in recent years, though perhaps the reason is that they haven't had the Disney name. We'll be waiting to see if this one will have the spark that previous live-action versions have been missing.

Snow White

Snow White set the tone for all the animated Disney films to follow. Now it will follow other successful adaptations into the live-action world. The film will be a full musical with new songs created by the songwriters behind La La Land. As with Peter Pan and Tink, Snow White has a related project with Rose Red. It's not clear if this film will be in the same universe as that one. This is another remake that seemingly hasn't had much movement recently, so it's unclear if it's still in active development or if it's been put on the shelf to make room for everything else.

Previously Released

Mary Poppins Returns

While it's not based on an animated film, or technically a remake (it's a sequel), Mary Poppins is as much a part of Disney history as anything that's been drawn. The story will return at Christmas of 2018 when Emily Blunt takes over the role that won Julie Andrews an Academy Award. With Lin-Manuel Miranda along for the ride, we're really excited to see how the practically perfect governess will come back to the big screen. This film will take its inspiration from other books written by P.L. Travers. And there are plenty more where those came from if this one is a hit. The first trailer was recently released, and, man, does this one look good.

Dumbo

Tim Burton got his start working for Disney, and the eclectic director has come back now and again, usually to put together stop-motion animation films. Considering the lead character of Dumbo is an elephant, Burton is trading in the stop-motion animation for CGI in the vein of The Jungle Book, but the one teaser that has been released doesn't show us a lot of how Dumbo will be brought to life. Colin Ferrell will play the lead human character, one that was not in the animated original, showing that this version of Dumbo will clearly diverge from the animated original.

Eva Green Almost Didn't Audition For Casino Royale Because She Didn’t Want Be A ‘Prissy’ Bond Girl

Eva Green Almost Didn't Audition For Casino Royale Because She Didn’t Want Be A ‘Prissy’ Bond Girl

Over the decades that the James Bond franchise has continued there were always certain elements that you could be sure would be included. Among them was the famous "Bond Girl." While the exact definition of what constituted the Bond Girl was somewhat fluid, you could always be sure the role would be played by a beautiful woman who would catch the eye of James Bond.

When the James Bond franchise got something of a reboot, Eva Green was offered the female lead of Casino Royale, but the actress actually turned down an audition initially. It seems she didn't have the highest opinion of the Bond Girl, and wasn't really interested in becoming one. According to Green...

I was probably a bit stupid or naive. I said, ‘Ugh, a Bond girl? What kind of prissy girl is that?’ They also kept the script secret. So it wasn’t until they gave me the script [nine months later] that I realized it was a meaty role. I didn't see her as a Bond girl. She’s a strong character; she’s got cracks.

To be fair, it seems Eva Green had no idea what she was actually saying no to when she was asked to consider the role. She saw the role as being something "prissy" that she had no desire to play. Once she had more of an idea of what the role actually was, she tells THR she became much more interested in it.

In the early James Bond movies most of the female roles were little more than sex objects that James would would either sleep with and/or rescue from the villain. There were always some exceptions to that rule, in some of the later films we saw actresses like Michelle Yeoh and Halle Berry take on roles of characters who were perfectly capable of fighting alongside James Bond, though the fact that they could do this might actually disqualify them from being "Bond Girls" depending on exactly how you define the term.

However, with Casino Royale the entire franchise saw a reboot. With that came a very different Bond in Daniel Craig and a very different sort of female lead. Eva Green's Vesper Lynd isn't another secret agent, but neither is she simply eye candy. She was one of the more complicated, and therefore more interesting, female lead's in the history of the franchise. She was so much more interesting that it's quite unfortunate that we lost her at the end of the film. Though the character's death went on to influence the rest of the Craig Bond films.

I for one am certainly glad that Eva Green joined Casino Royale as it's one of my favorite Bond films of all time and she's no small part of that. The next James Bond movie is finally moving toward production. Eva Green will be seen next in the new live action Dumbo.

Did DC Just Subtly Confirm Robert Pattinson As Batman?

Did DC Just Subtly Confirm Robert Pattinson As Batman?

Matt Reeves, DC, and Warner. Bros. have yet to officially announce anyone as the new post-Ben Affleck Batman. All we know at this point is Robert Pattinson was reported to be cast as the lead of The Batman, per Variety, with Deadline saying Pattinson had the edge on a short list but Nicholas Hoult was still in the running. But now some fans are reading into an Instagram post from DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee, seeing it as a hint to Pattinson's confirmation:

Hmmm. Was it just a coincidence that this top DC exec staged a social media image to show Robert Pattinson's name in all-caps? That tablet shot seems to show pieces of Howard Stern interviews, with Stern talking to Pamela Anderson and then Pattinson. But as a DC guy, he had to know fans would interpret Pattinson's name as some kind of easter egg hint.

Over on Reddit, fans are discussing Jim Lee's post, and also reports that Robert Pattinson was seen on the Warner Bros. lot in L.A.:

Now, that doesn't necessarily mean he was doing anything for The Batman. As fans have noted, he is also part of Christopher Nolan's WB film Tenet. As far as we know, The Batman won't start filming until this fall for a 2021 release, so if Robert Pattinson's set visit had anything to do with Batman, it could possibly be for another screen test or to sign papers, etc. That's all speculation, though. What we're waiting for is official word from The Powers That Be.

I'd love to hear from Matt Reeves directly on this, but that will happen in due time. For now, Robert Pattinson is being treated as the new Bruce Wayne. It's going to be very awkward if Reeves turns out to go in a different direction. Fans seem to have mixed reactions to Pattinson -- and there was a petition against his casting -- but I'm seeing a lot of early support/let's give him a chance responses. I'm also fond of Willem Dafoe's point about his chin.

As we wait for official word, one way or the other, keep up with all things DCEU in our handy guide, and check out our 2019 movie release schedule for news on everything already confirmed to be coming to theaters this year.

Ryan Reynolds And Taika Waititi Are Working Together For The First Time Since Green Lantern

Ryan Reynolds And Taika Waititi Are Working Together For The First Time Since Green Lantern

Sounds like Green Lantern superhero buddies Ryan Reynolds and Taika Waititi will reunite on screen in Free Guy. Let's hope this movie is a little bit more successful!

Taika Waititi is joining Ryan Reynolds' action comedy Free Guy, Deadline reports, which follows a bank teller who discovers that he's actually a player inside a video game. With the help of an avatar, he tries to prevent the makers of the game from shutting down his world.

The film, directed by Shawn Levy, also stars Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Joe Kerry (Stranger Things), Utkarsh Ambudkar (Brockmire), and Lil Rel (Get Out).

There's no word on who Taika Waititi would play. He's become best known for his directing work -- including Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok -- but he also has a solid list of acting roles.

One of his early roles was in the 2011 DC Comics movie Green Lantern. Taika Waititi played Ferris Aircraft engineer Thomas Kalmaku, friend of Ryan Reynolds' Hal Jordan/Green Lantern. Check out a scene with Hal and Tom, with Hal showing Tom his suit:

It's a fun scene -- Taika looks so different! -- but Green Lantern was a notorious misfire across the board, and Ryan Reynolds has been joking about it ever since. Still, he co-starred with Blake Lively, who is now his wife, and the rest of the cast was equally strong. And now Ryan Reynolds and Taika Waititi are reuniting nearly 10 years later, when their careers are in very very different (and better) places.

Now Ryan Reynolds is becoming synonymous with Deadpool, but fans are also excited for his Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, which opens in May. He also has the sequel The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard in the works.

As for Taika Waititi, he has become such a sought-after writer/director, he was the only one fans were semi-OK with taking on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 when it looked like James Gunn wouldn't return.

Taika Waititi is directing an episode of Disney+'s Star Wars series The Mandalorian, and he might also be voicing a character. He's also a director and producer of the FX series What We Do in the Shadows, which is based on his film.

Last we heard, Free Guy was looking at a July 3, 2020 release date -- but don't go circling the date on your movie calendar, 'cause it may move. In the meantime, keep up with what we do know is coming this year with our 2019 movie release date schedule.

How Anthony Mackie Learned About Avengers: Endgame's Captain America Twist

How Anthony Mackie Learned About Avengers: Endgame's Captain America Twist

SPOILER WARNING: Big time spoilers follow! Please see this movie and then come back here later!

Avengers: Endgame may not close the door for every character, but it certainly serves as a finale for some huge pillars of this cinematic franchise. New beginnings and endings collide in the final scene of Endgame with Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson. It ends in a huge moment for both characters, and Anthony Mackie has finally opened up about filming the scene, what it means for the future, and the extremely touching and awesome way he first learned about it.

Okay, it's spoiler time. The Russo Bros. may be lifting the spoiler-ban on Monday, but I don't want to get beat up, so this is your last chance to turn away.

All right then. In the final moments of Endgame, Steve Rogers volunteers to travel back in time and return the Infinity Stones to prevent some very dark alternate realities. After doing his job, Steve decides to finally live the life he's always wanted and instead of returning to the present, stays in the 1940's to be with Peggy Carter. He arrives back in the main timeline as an old man, having lived a full and content life with his one true love.

But the world needs a Captain America, and Steve hands Sam Wilson his old shield. That's right, Falcon becomes the new Captain America. It's a super sweet and touching scene that has a lot of weight to it, and that's almost the exact same way Mackie learned about the scene. He was told by none other than Chris Evans, and they got to share a nice moment together.

We were at [Chris Evans’] house and he goes, 'You excited?' And I go, 'What are you talking about?' and he goes, 'You don't know?' He jumps up, runs out of the room and comes back in with the script… We cried. We drank. We laughed. I am very happy I got that moment with Chris, for him to not only pass me the shield, but to tell me it was happening.

Mackie told the IMDb Show that he learned about Falcon's future at Chris Evans' house. Mackie didn't even know about it yet and it sounds like Evans was incredibly excited to tell him about it. It's great that the two of them got to share a private moment about it, considering that their characters are so close in the movies.

Sam Wilson's future is looking bright, and Mackie sounds excited to see where it all goes. He also spoke about how he feels about the big change, what it means going forward, and what he hopes it'll mean to his sons. (I'm not crying, you are!)

It means a lot to me for my sons to see Captain America as a black dude and for me to be that dude to my sons. So that moment was not just, 'Hey, we're acting.' It was more of a thing. And then they cut and I cried. And Chris cried. And the Russos cried. And everyone cried. It was an emotional day.

We can probably bet on the Falcon and Winter Soldier Disney+ series to shed some light on how Sam will become Captain America. Until then, why don't you go see Avengers: Endgame. It doesn't need the help, but it's a really good movie.

Toy Story 4 Will Feature A Don Rickles Tribute

Toy Story 4 Will Feature A Don Rickles Tribute

In April 2017, Don Rickles, who voiced Mr. Potato Head for the Toy Story franchise, passed away. Rather than recast the role for Toy Story 4 since recording had not begun when Rickles died, it was announced earlier this year that he will still serve as the voice of Mr. Potato Head thanks to archived audio. It’s also been revealed that the next Pixar movie will feature a tribute to the stand-up comedian. In director Josh Cooley’s words:

Yes we're gonna have a tribute to him. We, you know we went through everything that could possibly, he's recorded so we went through all the past films, all the shorts, all the video games, all the theme park stuff, all the ice- capades all the toys. He's done a lot over the past 25 years. And you know he did sign on to be on this film before he passed and so we're very honored for that and we're also very honored that his family asked us to see if can create a performance.

CinemaBlend’s own Dirk Libbey visited Pixar Animation Studios to learn more about Toy Story 4, and Don Rickle’s presence in the movie was among the topics discussed. Considering that Mr. Potato Head is one of the main supporting characters in the Toy Story franchise, as well as the fact that these movies introduced Rickles to an entire generation, and it’s incredibly fitting that Toy Story 4 will pay tribute to the man.

Aside from Don Rickle’s voice being featured in Toy Story 4, it will be interesting to see how the folks at Pixar honored him for the movie. I can easily imagine a short message being displayed onscreen either before or after the credits roll, but perhaps there will be a more unique way that the tribute unfolds. In any case, since it looks like Toy Story 4 could really be the end of this film series, it’s all the more appropriate that Rickles is properly commemorated here.

This isn’t the first time the Toy Story franchise has had to deal with the loss of a main cast member. In 2000, only a few months after Toy Story 2’s release, Jim Varney, the original voice of Slinky Dog, passed away. When it came time to record Toy Story 3, Blake Clark was tapped as Varney’s successor. But in Mr. Potato Head’s case, there was so much audio from a variety of projects that recasting the character for Toy Story 4 wasn’t necessary.

Along with Don Rickles, Toy Story 4 will feature old favorites like Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger and Annie Potts all reprising their respective roles. The new cast members include Tony Hale, Jordan Peele, Keegan Michael-Key, Christina Hendricks and Keanu Reeves.

Toy Story 4 hits theaters on June 21, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for continuing coverage. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release schedule to learn what other major motion pictures are opening later this year.

8 Zac Efron Movies That Prove He's Bigger Than High School Musical

8 Zac Efron Movies That Prove He's Bigger Than High School Musical

Zac Efron has come a long way from East High School with his starring role in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, on Netflix now. Looking back to 2006, Zac Efron was at the forefront of High School Musical, a corny-but-peppy-and-bubbly Disney Channel original movie that became a full pop culture phenomenon, the likes of which likely surprised even the folks at Disney. It was an overnight sensation — literally — once it aired on the Disney Channel that fateful evening. Since then, Zac Efron has been a household name, and has earned no shortage of adoring fans.

However, because of his success in this three-part film series, there are some folks out there who still associate Zac Efron's acting with his work as Troy Bolton in High School Musical. Despite his best efforts to branch out and expand himself as an actor, there are some musical lovers out there who only see Zac Efron for the work he did in the past without recognizing his developing talents. That's not really fair. In the past decade, Zac Efron has proven to be a versatile, charismatic performer, having varied himself well enough to be more than his work in the Disney Channel trilogy. He should be accredited as an accomplished, talented and dedicated actor.

Much like how we are not much like our high school selves once we get older, Zac Efron has grown up and matured in a strong, promising actor. He has developed an esteemed resume and shown himself to be an established actor in many different respects. So, let's take a moment to showcase a number of the roles that prove that he's bigger than his hit performances in High School Musical 1, 2, and 3.

Me And Orson Welles

In 2008, shortly after he rose to celebrity through his appearances in High School Musical 1 & 2, Zac Efron worked alongside director Richard Linklater in the period piece biopic Me and Orson Welles, which followed a starry-eyed teenager who got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with the great Orson Welles in his 1937 production of Julius Caesar. It was certainly the work of a young performer, but it gave audiences outside of the High School Musical fanbase a chance to see an actor on the rise.

Plus, it showcased that had dramatic range and potential that wasn't fully explored in those TV movie musicals. Sure enough, as the years went on, the actor would continue to prove himself in a variety of different performances.

The Lorax

While Zac Efron rose to super-status through his vocal pipes, singing tunes for High School Musical, the actor reached a new career phase when he did his first voice-only performance in The Lorax, Illumination Entertainment's 2012 feature-length adaptation of Dr. Seuss beloved children's book. As the voice of Ted Wiggins, the child protagonist, Zac Efron uses his popularity with the younger crowds to draw viewers into this new take on the old environmental tale. While the film itself didn't win over many critics, it provided Zac Efron with one of his first major box office smashes. During its 2012 release, The Lorax made over $348 million worldwide.

During its 2012 release, The Lorax made over $348 million worldwide. That's not too bad for a first big animated outing.

Neighbors

After a series of unremarkable performances in inert or underwhelming dramas, Zac Efron finally found his calling outside of High School Musical. And it was in the comedy department. In a role that allowed the rising actor to finally be free from the restraints of Disney's child-friendly image, Zac Efron appeared alongside Seth Rogen in 2014's surprise hit R-rated comedy Neighbors, allowing the actor to prove his comedic chops (while also not being afraid to take off his shirt a few times).

Though the comedies he appeared in afterwards didn't acquire the same success (See: Baywatch and Bad Grandpa), Efron's work in Neighbors proved that he was on his way up the ladder, creatively. Plus, could be really funny, to boot.

The Disaster Artist

As anyone who has seen The Room will note, the role of Chris-R is just as puzzling and bizarre as anything else in Tommy Wiseau's elusive passion project. Yet, the actor who played the role, Dan Janjigian, gave a convincingly menacing and surprisingly compelling performance, channeling more believable and palpable emotion intensity in just one scene than anyone else did throughout the entirety of the movie. It is often considered the one good performance in a film that's certainly less-than-great, and Zac Efron certainly had his work cut out for him.

In James Franco's dramedy biopic, The Disaster Artist, Efron played Janjigian/Chris-R in a similar memorable sequence, and he reportedly went method in the same way his on-screen persona did. Once again, Zac Efron proved his talents are quite versatile.

The Greatest Showman

Following 2008's High School Musical 3, Zac Efron opted not to participate in any more movie musicals. The actor was focused more on comedic and dramatic roles, challenging himself as an actor and pushing himself more as a performer. It wasn't until nine years later when he appeared in The Greatest Showman that he got a chance to sing and dance again.

Sure enough, while it was nearly a decade after his first movie musical, Zac Efron was far from rusty in the singing department. The box office numbers and chart-topping album sales also suggest that audiences will continue to come out in droves to see Efron belt out a tune or two in a theater near them. Plus, this time, Zac Efron got to sing as a very much adult character dealing with the period issues of the day.

The Beach Bum

Similar to how fellow High School Musical alum (and Efron's former fling) Vanessa Hudgens moved away from her Disney image with Harmony Korine's cult hit Spring Breakers, Zac Efron wanted to work with the auteur indie director to push himself as an actor into more adult territory. The result is a limited-but-impressive turn in The Beach Bum, Korine's recent follow-up to Spring Breakers, which finds Efron playing the role of Flicker, a hard-drinking, Creed-loving, Panini beard-wearing party-lover who mirrors Matthew McConaughey's titular Beach Bum on his path to self destruction.

Even though he is only in the movie for 10 minutes -- maybe 15 minutes max -- it is a great and unique turn for Zac Efron. And it's another performance that shows Zac Efron's talents as a supporting actor, beyond his leading man roles. Plus, just look at that facial hair.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile

In what could easily be described as his most controversial role to date, Zac Efron's performance as Ted Bundy in the historical drama Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile was met with a great deal of trepidation and concern from the media due to the subject matter at hand. The story of Ted Bundy is not for the faint of heart, and it was certainly a far cry from Zac Efron's Disney days. Yet, through his involvement in this film, Zac Efron provided a meta thesis to the dramatization of this true story.

Zac Efron's charisma and good looks are eerily similar to the late serial killer, and it shows how the media painted a muddled picture of the events that caused people to question whether a person like Ted Bundy could commit such heinous crimes, despite the stark evidence that suggested — over and over — that he did. It's an intriguingly metatexual performance, and one that shows Efron's dramatic range.

As a young, on-the-rise actor, Zac Efron is continuing to prove himself with a variety of different movies and shows. The actor is steadily expanding and challenging himself in different roles and with different opportunities, and there's a good chance that we'll continue to see Zac Efron's stardom rise in the future. For now, though, we hope we showed you how Zac Efron continues to develop and excel an actor, and how he is much bigger than his work in the High School Musical movies.