Gracia's Mindspeak

School is back in session at East High!

The fourth installment of Disney’s High School Musical movie franchise will once again be making its world premiere on Disney Channel in 2010. Disney will not be launching the movie first in theaters, as it did for High School Musical 3, which premiered last October 2008, racking up over $250 million at the worldwide box office. The fourth installment will also feature a new cast of characters, which would make a theatrical launch a risky proposition if current stars Zac Effron and Vanessa Hudgens don't come on board in some form. The High School Musical franchise started life on Disney Channel in January, 2006, but has since grown into a worldwide phenomenon. High School Musical 2 premiered on the network in August, 2007, and was at the time the most-watched program in cable television history.

On Tuesday, Disney announced a fourth installment of the "High School Musical" movie franchise. Although "HSM 3: Senior Year" was a big-screen blockbuster, the next film will air on cable TV. That's a good move by Disney, since the sequel will lack big name stars like Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens as box-office draws. What "HSM 4" won't lack are upbeat songs and group dance routines. The musical numbers will be interspersed throughout the plot, which Disney describes as "a classic love triangle set against the crosstown school rivalry between the East High Wildcats and West High Knights." So who will make up the new class?Tiara Gold (Jemma McKenzie-Brown), Jimmie Zara (Matt Prokop), and Donnie Dion (Justin Martin) were introduced in "HSM 3," but they haven't been confirmed for the next flick. Regardless, I'm sure Disney has a stable of young hotties who will be able to step in and fill their shoes!

And don't rule out cameo appearances by the series' original stars. Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, and Corbin Bleu have all moved on, but if their solo projects fail they might just return to their old stomping grounds.

Who will replace Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron in "HSM 4"?