HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — "High School Musical" star Zac Efron has signed up to star in "Me and Orson Welles," an adaptation of Robert Kaplow's period coming-of-age novel.
Set in 1937, the story centers on a high school student (Efron) who, while strolling the streets of New York, happens upon the yet-to-open Mercury Theatre and is noticed by its mercurial founder, Orson Welles. The man lands a bit part in "Julius Caesar," the production that catapulted Welles to the top, and spends the next week learning about life and love.
The role of Welles will be played by newcomer Christian McKay, while Ben Chaplin ("Water Horse: The Legend of the Deep") has been cast as English film and stage actor George Coulouris.
The film will be directed by Richard Linklater. The movie's script was written by Holly Gent Palmo, who was a production coordinator on Linklater's "Dazed and Confused," and Vince Palmo.
Efron, who was hospitalized last week with an appendectomy, is currently shooting the New Line comedy "Seventeen" with "Friends" alum Matthew Perry.
He will begin shooting "Welles" in mid-February and March in such locales as New York, London and the Isle of Man, whose Gaiety Theatre is being booked for the production.
Following those projects, Efron will return to the franchise that launched him into fame, with filming for "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" expected to begin in mid-April.
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