U.S. actor Zac Efron takes another step away from the world of high school musicals that made him famous with a part in “Me and Orson Welles,” which also features British newcomer Christian McKay in the title role. In the movie, which hits British theatres on December 4, 22-year-old Efron plays a teenaged student who fortuitously stumbles into a minor role in the 1937 Mercury Theater production of “Julius Caesar” directed by the young Welles. During one tumultuous week, he makes his Broadway debut, finds romance with an ambitious older woman and dares to cross the overbearing Welles in a coming-of-age tale. The film is Efron’s second release since he graduated from the successful “High School Musical” franchise which made him a teen idol, after he appeared in “17 Again” which came out in April. “I’m definitely sad to see the end of it (High School Musical), but I think it’s all about progression and growing and trying new things,” Efron told Reuters on the red carpet of the new movie’s European premiere in London late on Wednesday. “This is definitely the next step in that journey for me,” he added against a noisy backdrop of dozens of screaming fans. “I can’t wait for everybody to see this movie and hear their thoughts. Hopefully they can learn something from the film, a little bit about Orson Welles, the history of Broadway. It’s pretty fascinating, it’s a fun film.” For McKay, being chosen by director Richard Linklater to play the larger-than-life Welles came as a surprise. “We did an old-fashioned screen test together and he (Linklater) never watched it. He was convinced,” he said of the casting process. “It would have been much easier to cast a famous star, and when I first met him and he started talking to me about Orson I gave him a list of famous Hollywood stars who could play him. It would’ve much easier for Richard to have chosen one of them. He would have gotten the funding easier … but he stuck with me and that tells you something about the man.” Linklater, known as a maker of cult films like “Dazed and Confused” and “A Scanner Darkly” but also with a Hollywood hit under his belt with “School of Rock,” said he chose Efron for his charisma on screen rather than his star power. When asked if he feared Efron might overshadow the rest of the cast and the movie itself, he replied: “Not really. I didn’t really think about it that way. Selfishly, as a director I wanted to find the best actor I could, someone who could go toe to toe with Orson Welles which is pretty hard to do. Welles is one of the bigger personalities in the last couple of centuries, so I needed someone with that kind of charisma, with that leading man … and Zac had that.”

While I admit that I am suspicious of Efron’s ability to act his way out of a paper bag I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I’ve been so impressed with Daniel Radcliffe’s acting abilities outside of the Harry Potter films that I’m willing to believe (well, hope) that there can be a young US actor with the same talent. After Me and Orson Welles opens in theaters Efron has another dramatic film on the way, The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud. It would seem that Zac Efron is trying to move towards a more substantial film career … and I’m very curious to see if he can pull it off. After all, a guy with hair that great (and, let’s be honest, he’s got a better head of hair than even Robert Pattinson has) has got to be in movies. It’d be wonderful if Zac can prove to the world that he’s also got the acting ability to go with his movie star good looks.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin; Source]

No, Zac hadn’t attracted a group of NAMBLA members, he merely attracted a group of professional autograph sellers. It was nice of Zac to sign the photos even tho they will most likely end up on eBay going for gads of money. Zacy poo has been away from LA for so long, I almost forgot what he looks like. I suspect we’ll be seeing a lot more of Efron around town now that he’s home, sweet, home.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Is Zac Efron the next king of the silver screen? It may be too soon to tell, but the actor—who turns 22 next Sunday—is certainly making good start. This month sees the release of the Richard Linklater-directed Me and Orson Welles, in which Efron plays an aspiring thespian who by a series of fortunate events is thrown into the iconic director’s infamous production of Julius Caesar, which was the first Shakespeare play ever staged on Broadway. NYLON Guys went sailing with Efron in Vancouver to talk about his transition from Disney pin-up to serious actor.

On Disney fame: “I try not to look at all of it. You can’t enjoy or celebrate it; it’s not a real thing. The face on the lunchbox and shit—you can’t share that with your friends.”

We know that Efron has been hard at work in Vancouver filming his next movie The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud but I’ve been hearing good buzz about his Orson Welles film due out next month. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to see Zac Efron as a serious actor but … he sure does have pretty hair. After the jump, check out the photos from Zac’s Nylon Guys photospread …

Yes … let’s hope for the sake of Zac Efron’s career he never starts losing his hair. Make sure you pick up this issue of Nylon Guys to read the full text of his coverstory interview … or, you know, to have more photos to tape up onto your walls ;)

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… so those of you who really wish you could spend an entire year with Zac Efron can kinda do so now. After the jump, check out a sample of some of the images that you will find in this 2010 calendar …

The calendar looks chock full of really close-up photos of Zacy poo so those of you who are so inclined can press your lips up to the photos and pretend that you are kissing him … er, well, at least that’s what I *heard* some people like to do with photos like these ;) If you would like to get your grubby mitts on the Official 2010 Zac Efron calendar you can procure one HERE. I’d suggest you get it laminated … you know … in case you end up doing that kissy thing I mentioned ;)

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Perhaps if we watch him long enough, the clothes will mysteriously disappear again. Tho, the sight of that winter cap seems to be a sign that the weather is gettin’ more chilly in Canadialand, therefore inhibiting Efron’s desire to strip down. Oh, who am I kidding … Zac loves his knit cap so much he wears that thing in the blistering Summer sun all the time. Because I have no real interest in seeing this movie when it gets released, I’m hoping that something more interesting on the set of the movie will pique my interest … thus far, I think I’m gonna need to see more skin.

[Photo credit: INFdaily]

Yes, yes … I know … he’s fully dressed AND wearing a long sleeve shirt … BUT his thermal shirt is tight enough to show off the muscles that he’s been blatantly flashing lately so … it ain’t all bad. It would appear that the actors are getting in a bit of male bonding in between takes, which should help them make their brotherly relationship more believable on screen. It stands to reason that Zac will be getting back to his half-dressed ways in no time … we hope.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Damn. Clearly homeslice has been workin’ it out at the gym … and seems pretty proud to show off all of his hard work … and I can’t rightly say that I mind all that much myself. After the jump, check out a couple more photos of Zac doin’ his thang — which includes a few impromptu push ups …

Yeah, I dunno what else I can offer by way of commentary … sometimes, you just gotta let the photos speak for themselves. Yes?

[Photo credit: National Photo Group]

Lawd, his new haircut makes him look about 10 years younger … clearly not of marrying age. I have to admit, I have no idea what this Charlie St. Cloud movie is all about but methinks that a shirtless Efron movie will bring all the girls to the yard, no matter what the subject matter. Let’s just hope the film does better at the box office than his gf Vanessa Hudgen’s new film Bandslam did this weekend … it was a total box office FL5OP (the 5 is silent).

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I didn’t even know that Zac Efron knows what a quarter is … not that it matters cuz arcade games don’t even cost $.25 to play anymore. To be honest, I can’t even remember the last time that I actually set foot inside of a video game arcade … prolly not since Super Mario Bros. came out in the late 80’s. It’s nice to see that Zac has a keen sense of history.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]

I can’t remember the last time that Zac’s hair was so short … it must be for a new movie role because there ain’t no way that Zac would clip his beautiful hair unless he was forced to by the Powers that Be — or mebbe on the advice of a new lady? Zac was reportedly seen out on a date with Megan Fox earlier this week … perhaps she whispered in his ear and Voila! haircut. I must say … it’s a nice look on him. He looks more clean cut. Not too shabby … do y’all like?

[Photo credit: Rocstar]