Olivia Rodrigo’s Sendoff & Extra – Hollywood Life

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The curtain rose on the brand new season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Wednesday, July 27 and there’s a lot in retailer for followers of the Wildcats. Season two left off with so many unanswered questions: What’s going to occur with Nini? Are EJ and Gina now endgame? And who will Miss Jenn give her coronary heart to – Ricky’s dad or Mr. Mazarra?

Effectively, who higher to share all of the juicy particulars than Miss Jenn herself! Kate Reinders has portrayed the fearless chief of the Wildcats from the very starting, and in her EXCLUSIVE interview with HollywoodLife, she shared simply what we are able to count on from the drama trainer on this new chapter.

“If we all know something it’s that the children are an important factor on the earth to Miss Jenn,” Kate says of her beloved character, however admitted that it will be awhile earlier than the trainer would reunite together with her college students. Season 3 picks up weeks after the occasions of the last season, with summer season trip underway and the children unfold out, although most head off to camp collectively. Within the first episode, we be taught that Miss Jenn gained’t be following her youngsters into the wilderness, however slightly she’s adventuring on a cruise with – SPOILER ALERT – Ricky’s dad!

So, has Miss Jenn made her selection ultimately? Maybe – maybe not! “We love them each proper,” Kate says of Miss Jenn’s two suitors. “Fantastic, great guys that full her in several methods. Ricky’s dad was at all times first, however perhaps Mr. Mazzara is the lengthy recreation? We’ll see.”

Whereas Miss Jenn makes up her thoughts, we additionally be taught within the first episode again that Nini, performed by celebrity and 3x Grammy winner Olivia Rodrigo, is skipping camp together with her pals to move to Los Angeles.  It was revealed forward of the premiere that this might doubtless be Olivia’s final season with the present and that her character would have a “smaller presence” earlier than her final sendoff. Which means Kate bought to share one in all Olivia’s remaining scenes in episode one, and she or he couldn’t be prouder.

“Between season one and season three, Olivia has exploded on the earth,” Kate stated, “And what was so, so great and refreshing is that when it’s simply us, it might’ve been 2018 once more. She is simply the identical candy, great woman, & nice actress. She’s actually simply good-hearted particular person. I used to be so comfortable to know, being the present ‘mother’, that sweetness of her’s hasn’t been snapped out of her. She hasn’t let [fame] change her.”

With Nini on a brand new path, the present takes a stronger concentrate on a few of the different characters, particularly those that head off to Camp Shallow Lake for the summer season. Whereas EJ thinks his friends are becoming a member of him to spend high quality time, it quickly turns into clear that Ashlyn, Carlos and the remainder are way more involved in assembly the key celeb visitor, who seems to be none aside from original Wildcat, Corbin Bleu.

“It’s great to really see how inspiring they’re nonetheless to the children in our present.” Kate says of Corbin, and of all the unique Excessive College Musical stars who’ve appeared on the present to date, like Lucas Gabreel in season 1. “Corbin has grown into such a beautiful, beautiful man. And he’s clearly such an excellent instance for youths. How one can have big success at [a young] age and nonetheless be a beautiful particular person. I do know our youngsters will go on and do the identical.”

Talking of the longer term, with this season following the trajectory of the Excessive College Musical movies, it stands to purpose that the present will finally must take care of its stars getting older out of highschool. That would very nicely imply that season 4 might discover the children going into their senior yr. However with new characters coming into annually and the franchise being so common, is there a room for a brand new class after this one graduates? Kate thinks so and she or he’s prepared for Miss Jenn to be round for all it!

“Miss Jen is comfortable to remain till she’s Mrs. Jenn, Grandma Jenn, even Golden Jenn!,” Kate teased. “ There are new youngsters becoming a member of this season who’re unbelievable skills.  [Casting Director] Julie Ashton and [Creator] Tim Federle undoubtedly have some form of particular, voodoo eye for loopy proficient youngsters. In order a lot as it will be unhappy if our youngsters had been to maneuver on, I feel there are different youngsters who will probably be able to take the torch after which the originals will probably be obtainable to steer them.”

As promising as that sounds, the opposite large plus to retaining the present going is that it retains the doorways open for different Excessive College Musical alumni to return. Previous to the season 3 premiere, each Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron posted selfies in entrance of their Disney alma mater, East Excessive, main many to surprise if the pair are poised for some form of Wildcasts reunion. Whereas followers of HSMTMTS shouldn’t count on to see them this season, Kate admits you shouldn’t depend them out.

“I’ll be ready contained in the door with refreshments and main the way in which anytime they’re prepared,” Kate teased. “ I don’t know if Frankie Rodriguez (who performs Carlos) nonetheless has this, however at one level we did have a Zac Efron lower out in within the dressing room after which there was an Ashley Tisdale one as nicely. So, I imply, they’re already form of there, but when they needed to extend their presence, we’d love them.”

Season 3 of Excessive College Musical: The Musical: The Collection premiered Wednesday, July 27, 2022 on Disney+.