This could be the start of something new! High School Musical: The Musical: The Series was just renewed for season 3 by Disney+. The show follows a fictional version of East High School and its students who participate in the school's musical, led by Miss Jenn. Drama, tears and laughter ensues. The first season had the students performing in the theater version of High School Musical and the second season, to fans' dismays, was Beauty and the Beast. It'll be interesting to see what they do for season 3.
HSMTMTS has been positively received. Critics focused on the performance of the cast, especially Joshua Bassett and Olivia Rodrigo. The streaming program won a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Kids & Family Programming in 2020.
Many of the actors have become super popular from this series, and there is a big following online. This is what High School Musical: The Musical: The Series will look like in season 3.
9 Where Season 2 Ended
After the cast spent all season preparing for Beauty And the Beast to win at the Menkies, they go on and perform the musical, but decide in the end not to open the envelope to see if they got nominated and agree that it was an accomplishment that opening night went well. So, will someone open it in season 3 and will this plotline still be explored?
As for the characters, here's where they ended up. Let's not forget Ricky and Nini are still broken up at this point. Nini calls Jamie (Jordan Fisher), who is Gina's older brother and a music producer to explore her career in music, leaving this plotline way open. Ricky questions who he is and takes a chance and calls Lily, a North High student and rival. But the question is can she be trusted?
At the very very end of the finale, Gina and E.J. appear to be running together and embrace in what might be their first kiss before the camera cuts. The other characters got some happy endings that we will hopefully see continue in season 3.
8 What Tim Federle Had To Say
Tim Federle is the show's creator and showrunner. He has always encouraged and supported the cast on and off screen. About the show being renewed for season 3, he said, “We are overjoyed to be heading to the great outdoors for season three, and grateful to our partners and friends at Disney+ for their continued support of our next-generation Wildcats."
Federle explained to TVLine why they decided to not open the envelope. “There was originally a different Episode 12 planned where they went to the awards and competed but still pulled out." But, like with many things, the pandemic made them shift their direction. "Ultimately, the logistical challenges of creating a television show during a pandemic were very overwhelming. We’d gotten to a point in the season, pre-vaccine, where the idea of another big episode with a huge audience of hundreds of people just felt irresponsible."
7 What We Know About The Plot Of Season 3
Even though the show is based around the students of East High and going back to the school that inspired the movies, this time they are moving away from that. When it was announced that the show would be returning for season 3, we also found out that the Wildcats will be going to Summer Camp and away from East High. Now, will Miss Jenn be heading the camp and will be see Mr. Mazzara? The last season wrapped up their Spring musical, so this gives them the chance to keep characters, like E.J. who would be graduating, in the series.
6 Olivia Rodrigo May Or May Not Return For Season 3 Of 'HSMTMTS'
The way Nini's story ended in season 2 set her up for if she doesn't come back. With how popular Olivia Rodrigo is, she may want to go on tour soon and explore her music career further and filming this show could possibly hold her back from all of that. In the show, her "The Rose Song" blew up after it was posted on Instagram and made her a musical sensation overnight, kind of like real life.
Federle opened up on if she is returning or not. “I don’t have a specific plan for that because there’s actor contract stuff I can’t even touch — it’s not for me to make a ruling on,” he told Entertainment Weekly. "What I will say is, it’s hard to imagine High School Musical without Olivia, but Olivia is also experiencing a level of success and fame and opportunity that I would never want to stand in the way of. I want the show to succeed, but the actors who make the show are always more important to me than the product."
5 Where And When It Is Being Filmed
Usually the show is filmed at the iconic location of Salt Lake City, Utah, where the original East High is, but this time they are moving to Los Angeles. It will be easier for the actors as most of them live around there and last time, they didn't get to see a lot of their family or friends because the pandemic allowed them not to travel. Plus, if they are going to a Summer camp, it would be away from the school. But will the show still be placed in Utah or another state? Production on season 3 is said to being later this year.
4 Guest Stars For Season 3
Season 2 left a lot of plot holes open with the guest stars. Jordan Fisher may come back and reprise his role, especially if Nini is pursuing music. Olivia Rose Keegan, who plays Lily, was pursuing Ricky at the end of the season and her and some of the North High students may be following along, especially since Kourtney (Dara Renee) is dating one of them. Could Derek Hough also return since he and Miss Jenn seemed to be rekindling their relationship?
In season one, HSM alums Lucas Grabeel and Kaycee Stroh made guest appearances on the show. It would be amazing to have another alum from the original trilogy on the show.
3 How It's Like The Original Trilogy
In the first season, it clearly followed the first movie by reenacting the play and its songs, bringing back old alumni and even incorporating Gabriella's cell phone. Season 2, although they didn't perform HSM 2, did have the Wildcats singing songs from the second movie, including an amazing duet of "You Are the Music In Me" by Nini and Ricky.
Now, season 3 is like the original movies by moving the students away from school and taking place during the Summer. Remember in HSM 2 when Troy, Gabriella and the Wildcats went to Lava Springs for Summer jobs? Well, this is almost like that. We may see more songs from the second movie or even ones from the third or they could just produce more original songs and move away from the original. It's like HSM 2 meets Camp Rock.
2 Joshua Bassett Wants His Troy Bolton Moment
Joshua Bassett tweeted to the show's creator that if he is 'not upside in a fully rotating hallway with lightening and raining basketballs, we riot.' He is talking about the scene in the third movie where Troy is performing "Scream" in East High, and it creates a very powerful, and memorable, moment. Honestly, that would be amazing and with Bassett's singing ability, he has the chops to perform the number.
1 What Fans Are Saying
Without even seeing season 3, some fans already want a season 4 because it gets better with 'each passing week and episode.' Others are saying that there is no way season 3 can be bad because fans have given Tim hundred of suggestions. Another fan wondered if we will get to see E.J. graduating. While someone replied to them and said the first episode might be him graduating, the original tweeter made a good point- the show isn't being filmed in Salt Lake.
Most of the reactions seem to be positive ones and we can't wait to see behind the scenes photos and videos from the cast and what season 3 has to bring.