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Interview: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE SERIES Showrunner Tim Federle Teases 'Biggest' Season Yet
May 17, 2024
Tim Federle, the showrunner of High School Musical: the Musical: the Series, is teasing the final episodes of the hit Disney+ series. Watch a video interview of Ferderle to discuss bringing musical theatre to Disney+ throughout the show's recent seasons, launching the careers of young performers like Julie Lester and Olivia Rodrigo, and more.
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0:00
We are so sad that this amazing series is coming to an end
0:04
How are you feeling now that it's all just kind of wrapping up? Mostly, I feel so grateful that I got a chance to do the show
0:11
And, you know, I'm a lifelong theatre person. My only dream growing up, which was a big one, was to dance on Broadway
0:19
I saw no path for myself to even get into TV. So this entire thing feels like a cherry on a sundae
0:27
and like I'm the luckiest chorus boy who ever lived. I love that you say that because one thing that I loved the most about this series
0:34
is that you brought musical theatre to so many kids across the world
0:38
And we've seen you do that with other projects, too, Better Nate Than Ever
0:43
If you are sort of, first of all, I'll start with, how does it feel just to be able to do that
0:48
Oh, I mean, it's an honor to have the platform, to have Disney's support
0:53
And I mean, sitting on the set and watching Julia and Dara and Frankie and Josh and Matt and Sophia
1:03
just to watch them, their talent explode on screen, Sailor and Adrian
1:09
it brings me back to, you know, when I was a kid putting on musicals with my friends
1:15
and you just, you're hanging out with your friends and you think you're the most talented group of people in the world
1:19
And these kids actually are. And so mostly it's like a miracle that I was able to so luckily gather this group at this moment in time and record them forever
1:30
I was going to say, I mean, this show has launched so many amazing careers
1:35
Olivia Rodrigo, Julia Lester just nominated for a Tony Award for her amazing performance in Into the Woods
1:41
How did it feel just to sort of watch them grow throughout the series
1:47
I felt protective and proud every step of the way. And I don't have kids
1:54
And so it's very meaningful to me that they have a happy, healthy experience growing up
1:59
not only in the spotlight, but as young artists. And what I always tried to do was surround them with Kimberly McCullough, one of the executive producers
2:08
won an Emmy as a child actor on a soap opera. She's one of our producing directors on the series
2:15
I always wanted this cast to be set up for success and to not compete with each other, but rather to celebrate each other
2:24
So like Julia getting a Tony nomination is like Tim Federle fan fiction
2:28
It makes me laugh. I'm like, is this actually happening? But of course it is. And they deserve it
2:36
Yeah, yeah, it's been amazing. Looking into this new season, what can we expect from season four
2:43
It's our biggest season in terms of how meta it is, right
2:47
Disney is shooting High School Musical 4 at East High, where the kids are putting on High School Musical 3
2:55
So it's, you know, inception with jazz hands. But it's a lot of songs, it's a lot of romance, it's a lot of secret kisses in hallways
3:04
And I think what it really is is a celebration of the franchise that I was so lucky to temporarily hold on to the keys of
3:13
A celebration of this group of actors who some of them came into this as unknowns
3:19
And like Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, they're coming back a star
3:24
And it's a celebration of anyone out there who feels different and just needs to find their own song to sing
3:31
Love it. Just what we're looking for. Going back to what we said before about how much musical theater you've brought to Disney+
3:37
for maybe a next step, is there an ideal project that you would have in mind
3:41
like maybe another musical theater series or film that you'd want to bring to Disney+
3:46
I mean, you just said it. Like, I love musicals. I'm working on some director projects right now that are non-musical
3:54
And I get like five pages reading the script. And I'm like, where's the song
3:58
Like, there should be a song here. So I think the answer would be, you know, anything that feels inclusive and celebratory and ultimately optimistic
4:08
There's a lot of really good, like edgy, feel-bad content out there
4:12
And I watch it too on some of the competing platforms. But at the end of the day, I like stuff that gives people a little bit of a lift and a little bit of hope
4:20
And I think that is the world I will stay in. And I'm very lucky because I'm on this overall with Disney to keep making new stuff
4:28
So fingers crossed we all get back to work from this strike soon. After years of buildup, we're finally here
4:34
Senior year. I'm a junior. And you're going to stay a junior with that attitude, Carlos
4:39
Senior year. Me and Gina together, musicals are going to be the best
4:43
Here's a sneak preview of our show. High School Musical 3. Many of you know me as Coach Bolton from the High School Musical franchise
4:53
Folks, we're getting the whole gang back together to make High School Musical 4 right here at East High
5:00
Wait, we're still going to do High School Musical 3, right? Why wouldn't we
5:03
This movie has nothing to do with us. I'm told we have a special visitor meeting us in the rehearsal room
5:12
Corbin's on the clock. Mr. Bluh. And some friends. Hey, Wauken! We want the fourth movie to feel authentic
5:19
So we need you to be featured extra. It all comes down to right now, it's up to us
5:28
I don't want to hear everyone's opinion about us. So, what if we kind of stayed a secret
5:33
A secret relationship. The musical and a movie, it's going to be a lot
5:39
Where is everybody? It appears the movie sucked up all other potential drama kids
5:43
Well, we need all the bodies we can get. We're barely filling out the cast as it is
5:47
We have to save the show. This is the last time to get it right
5:51
Wherever you end up is going to be the right place. We gotta show what we're all about
5:56
Work together. This is the last chance to make our mark. I don't know if I'm ready for this
6:01
You're a star. Action. Now or never. W-I-L-D Wildcats. You know you're on W-I-L-D Wildcats
6:11
Come on, come on. This is the last chance to make our mark. No one really believed in me before you guys
6:17
Now or never. This is the best thing that's ever happened to me
6:22
Wildcats, this is your five-minute call. You guys don't do the lights thing
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