Actress Nikki Blonsky is busy prepping for ‘Hairspray 2′ and tells PopEater the sequel will live up to the success of the 2007 movie musical.

“Behind the genius of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, they are writing 17 brand new songs… We have all the right people who came up with the first one, so they can knock the second one out of the park.” Director Adam Shankman and writer John Waters will also be returning to work on the new film.

‘Hairspray 2: White Lipstick’ is slated for 2010 and will follow the success of 2007′s Broadway tuner that grossed $200 million when re-adapted for the screen.

Zac Efron will be back. “Where would Tracy be without Link? He is the only Link in my heart,” Blonsky says.

Although she doesn’t know where the couple will be in their relationship, she is pulling for no romantic drama. “I can only imagine they would still be together. Tracy and Link are the ‘Hairspray’ couple,” she adds. [Source]

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens hosted a party for the actress’s Sucker Punch castmates at Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House in Vancouver, B.C. The casually dressed duo picked out platters of food to serve family style and also mingled with all their guests during the four-hour dinner.

“They played musical chairs, going from table to table to speak with all their friends,” a source says.

The couple was also “very affectionate with each other” as they enjoyed their meal. Afterwards, the group piled into a stretch limo and continued the party at Hudgens‘ hotel. [Source]

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens were spotted in Vancouver on 5 December 2009. Enjoy the pics! UPDATED!

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• December 5 – Out & About In Vancouver (x11)

Zac Efron doesn’t tell his parents about his daredevil antics – because they have a tendency to wrap the young actor up in cotton wool. The High School Musical star, 22, says he didn’t let his dad know he’d been bungee jumping because he wouldn’t have been too pleased.

“When I went bungee jumping recently I didn’t tell my dad on purpose,” says Zac. “When the production company found out I had done it mid-way through filming they were almost as upset as my dad. My dad was like ‘What were you thinking?’ So I didn’t tell him – but in hindsight that was not a good idea either. I should’ve been honest. But it was so much fun and I would love to go skydiving at some point now.” [Source]

Zac Efron attended “Me and Orson Welles” premiere in Austin on 30 November 2009. Enjoy the pics! UPDATED!

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• ‘Me And Orson Welles’ Austin Premiere 11/30/2009 (x60)

Zac Efron has admitted that he tried to apologise to Leonardo DiCaprio over a quote he gave about the Titanic star. The High School Musical actor had joked that the only advice DiCaprio ever gave him was not to do heroin, although he later regretted how the quip appeared in print.

Speaking to The Times, he explained: “[I thought], ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I just did that to him.’ It was a joke, it was meant completely in sarcasm, but it came across so differently in print. I was devastated. I tried to call Leo and say, ‘Dude, I’m so sorry, that’s not at all what I meant to say.’ It was the worst feeling in the world.” [Source]

Actor Zac Efron has said that he is a “very private person” and that he finds fame difficult.

Speaking to The Times, he said: “They can do anything they want. It’s the law. Maybe you could call me paranoid, but I have become a very private person. I imagine there are people who can thrive in this scenario, who can be the centre of attention, but I just get overwhelmed.” [Source]

“Me and Orson Welles” may have been the first Zac Efron movie not to debut at number one, but it wasn’t supposed to. It’s a smaller movie he chose to explore a bit more of his craft outside the high school, singing, dancing, basketball genres.

“You know, we tried to do the musical version, but we couldn’t get the rights,” Efron joked. “No, it was different and it was a very unique opportunity for me at the time and it still is. I think it was something that just didn’t seem so cut and dry. It wasn’t an obvious decision. Even I was a bit surprised, and that’s very cool. I hope I can continue to maintain that and have those options. I mean, that’s why we do this, to grow, and try new things, and that was exactly what this movie represented for me. It came at the perfect time.”

Efron plays a young actor who gets to work in Welles’ famous production of Julius Caesar. “It seemed ambitious to make a film about Orson, because [director] Ric[hard Linklater] says we made a sort of a screwball comedy at times about Welles, which is something that he would have never done himself. He never would have made a screwball comedy, so we put him into a movie that he never would have [made]. I just thought that was so funny. Rick is full of those.”

The film was not Efron’s first encounter with the legendary filmmaker, however. “I was probably 16, and I worked with a director who said that his favorite movie of all time was Citizen Kane. As a wrap gift, he gave me the DVD and I was definitely fascinated by it and I thought that it was an incredible movie but I was probably too young to fully appreciate it at that point.”

Efron’s character learns a valuable lesson about dealing with Hollywood egos, and they don’t come much bigger than Welles. Fortunately, in real life, 70-some years later, it’s been easier for Efron.

“I think things have changed a little bit. I’ve never had an experience quite like that. I’d say it was reminiscent of a lot of my early theater experiences. It’s pretty cut throat, there’s always another kid on the sidelines ready to take your place, but never experience it quite like Orson, I don’t think.”

“Me and Orson Welles” is out in theaters now. [Source]

Zac Efron, who’s currently starring in (the just-released in limited theaters) “Me and Orson Welles,” has always lucked out with his roles and beautiful costars. Among his roster of women are Ashley Tisdale and girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens, but he really hit the jackpot this time role playing opposite Claire Danes.

In “Orson Welles,” Zac plays a shmoozing and talentless actor who is smitten with Claire’s Sonya Jones. But, according to Zac, Claire is just as amazing as her alter ego. “She’s perfect. She’s so beautiful and so talented and so willing to work with me and help me,” he gushed. “We bonded a lot, it was great.” [Source]

“High School Musical” star Zac Efron said he views his role in the independent U.S. film “Me and Orson Welles” as a “step forward” in his acting career. Efron, 22, said he wanted to throw himself a “curveball” by portraying teenage character Richard Samuels who works alongside the famed film director on a Broadway production, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

“It wasn’t another musical,” said Efron, referring to his “High School Musical” roots. “It was definitely a step forward in my opinion, and a risk, and something that I wasn’t even expecting of myself at the time, so I knew no one else would be. It would be kind of a curveball.”

Efron downplayed the industry stigma attached to an actor or actress best known for lighthearted teen fare such as “Musical,” saying his challenge is choosing the next best project.

“I’d say the challenge right now is finding specifically what to try and work on next,” Efron told the Post. “It’s not in terms of people being close-minded, really, to be honest.” [Source]