Zac Efronmade his acting debut at 11 years old in a local production ofGypsyafter his parents became aware of his singing talent. After making multiple theatrical appearances, he eventually earned guest roles on TV shows, includingFirefly,ER,CSI: Miami,NCIS, andThe Guardian. Following a series of cameo appearances onSummerland, Efron was cast as a regular, girl-obsessed Cameron Bale. In the television movieMiracle Run, co-starring Mary-Louise Parker and Aidan Quinn, Efron played an autistic child.
Update August 18, 2025: This article has been updated to reflect recent changes and delays to various films that Efron is attached to, including the new release date forThe Iron Clawand the delay forA Family Affair.
Efron first gained notoriety as the lead, alongside Vanessa Hudgens, in theHigh School MusicalDisney Channel original movie, for which he received the Teen Choice Award for Breakout Star. InHigh School Musical 2, which shattered cable TV records with 17.5 million viewers, he played Troy Bolton once more. Efron quickly transitioned into film leading man with roles in films like17 Again,Neighbors, andThe Greatest Showman,which all showed very different sides to Efraon as a performer. Efron’s career continues to thrive as he takes on roles that offer him variation and a unique resume. Here’s a look at Efron’s upcoming movies and when they are expected to be released.
The Iron Claw — August 10, 2025
The Iron Claw
Former professional wrestler Kevin Von Erich is anticipating Efron’s portrayal of him in the upcoming movieThe Iron Claw. Even before production started, Von Erich toldPeople Magazine, “It’s gonna be a hard job, I think, it’s a lot of information and a lot of time, and so they’ve got some tough work ahead of them, but I saw of a picture of the guy and he looked great.”
One glance at the released image of four actors who step into the roles of the Von Erich brothers is enough to know that the cast is promising. Von Erich started competing in wrestling competitions in 1976. Throughout his career, he won various awards, including the world championship. He was admitted to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 as a Von Erich family member.
The Iron Claw Trailer Finds Zac Efron Leading Tragic Wrestling Drama
The first trailer The Iron Claw teases this tragic tale of the Von Erich family, a dynasty of wrestlers from the 1960s.
The movie follows the “rise and fall of the Von Erich family, a dynasty of wrestlers who made a major impact on the sport from the 1960s to the current day,” as stated by the officialtagline from A24 Films. There is no doubt that this upcoming movie required Efron’s utmost dedication and an impeccable physique, but rest assured, the famous actor is known for putting all of his energy into his job. Luckily, it won’t be long until we get to see the end product, becauseThe Iron Clawwill be released on December 22.
A Family Affair — 2024
At the time of this writing, the new Netflix movieA Family Affair,starring Efron alongside Joey King, is basically just waiting to hit the screens of rom-com lovers. The movie was originally set to premiere on the streaming service on June 07, 2025, but was delayed due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA Strike. Now it is set to premiere sometime in 2024.
Next to the two widely loved actors Efron and King, the iconic Nicole Kidman is also a part of the movie, which Richard LaGravenese directed. According toDeadline, the film tells the story of what happens “following a surprising romance which kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother, and her movie star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.”
Efron returns to Netflix with this movie, having previously appeared inExtremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vileasserial killer Ted Bundy. We can only hope that this new Netflix offering will be just as successful for the actor, but considering that the essence of rom-coms is basically running through the veins of theHigh School Musicalactor, the hopes and expectations are high.
Ricky Stanicky — Release Date TBD
The filmRicky Stanickytells the story of three teenagers who certainly are not the luckiest when it comes to jokes. When one of their pranks goes wrong, and they accidentally set a house in their neighborhood on fire, the friends see no other option but to create a fake person, Ricky Stanicky. In a way, they seem to outsmart everyone because Ricky is successfully used as the culprit in order to shift the burden. Twenty years later, they had been utilizing this alibi to escape every challenging circumstance in life. When their spouses press them to meet with Stanicky, they hire a performer to play the fictitious person, which leads to amusing antics.
How Zac Efron Went From Disney Boy to Compelling Leading Man
What happened to Zac Efron? How did he manage to go from a tween idol in Disney movies to one of the most interesting, prolific leading men?
With Zac Efron and John Cena taking on the lead roles, director Peter Farrelly has two outstanding actors on his side who have already proved that they have the skills to deliver nothing short of perfection, even in a genre such as comedy. Efron previously collaborated with Farrelly onThe Greatest Beer Run Ever. After having shot in Melbourne, Australia, the upcoming movie is now in post-production. The film is set to premiere on Prime Video sometime in 2024.
Three Men and a Baby — Release Date TBD
Disney is producing the remake of the 1987 comedyThree Men and a Baby, and Will Reichel is the writer of the reboot’s script. The movie will depict what occurs when three bachelors are obliged to care for a child that one of their ex-girlfriends has left behind, which is similar to the original film’s premise. Disney has chosen Maurice “Mo” Marable to serve as the director, whose goal it is to stay true to the original while still offering more diversity. An approach that will most likely be highly appreciated.
Efron’s involvement in the project marks a return to Disney for the actor, and his role inThree Men and a Babycertainly seems to be his destiny. Efron was born in 1987, which is also the same year in which the original movie was first released. While the film was originally announced in 2020 and was set to debut on Disney+, it is unclear if the studio still has an interest in investing in big films for streaming afterthey removed many titles from their service. Unfortunately, Disney hasn’t given any updates regarding a possible release date, but in the meantime, the excitement to see Efron in this reboot is growing.
