Just a few short years ago, we saw a renewed interest in Stephen King when his It series was modernized and so acclaimed it has even seen a sequel. Now, Director Keith Thomas has tapped the shoulder of Zac Efron to take, presumably, the lead in his remake of Firestarter. This year also indicates the 40th anniversary of the original literary release of Firestarter, making it the perfect time for Thomas and Efron to sink their teeth into the dark story.
The original novel was rather Sci-Fi in nature, centered around a father/daughter duo, with the father Andy Mcgee likely to be played by Efron. The film is set to put heavy emphasis on the daughter role as well, but any casting for that is in the preliminary stages. Rumors will continue to swirl around this film with Efron starring, but it could be another step in a once Disney star’s prolific acting career.
Some question Efron’s ability to play a more dramatic role, but if we remember his performance in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile where he rather convincingly played one of the most infamous serial killers in United States history, it could certainly be interesting to see him tackle a Stephen King role. Sky’s the limit for Efron, and if he can bring a similar energy to this hole, the character Troy Bolton could quickly become a thing of the past.
