Is it really the beginning of the end forOlivia RodrigoonHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Series?
And it turns out the answer is a lot less concrete than it originally sounded.
TIM FEDERLE:Making this season was just so much fun.
‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ star Olivia Rodrigo.Sheryl Nields/Disney
Part of it was, I want to hang on to this incredible cast as long as I can.
So why summer camp?
Because it helps me delay saying goodbye to these actors who we’ve all grown so attached to.
Sofia Wylie and Matt Cornett on ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’.Anne Marie Fox/Disney
I just wanted to hold on to the actors as long as possible.
When you’re a kid, your life is so defined by those breaks.
Where did the decision come from to make her just recurring this season?
Frankie A. Rodriguez and Joshua Bassett on ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’.Anne Marie Fox/Disney
Well, the reality was, she had this album that did pretty well.
Not sure if you’ve heard of it, it’s calledSour.
[Laughs] And the world was clamoring for [her] tour.
That was thing one: how do you make both things work, schedule-wise?
And then thing two is, Olivia is amazing, but I really think this whole cast is amazing.
That’s how this season felt.
Is it a love triangle?
Is that what you interpret it as?
That definitely feels like the vibe!
[Laughs] I’m being sly.
Yeah, Gina’s got options.
It just felt too on the nose since Olivia has a once-in-a-generation music career happening.
That inspired her season.
Also … how do I say this?
They went off and they lived their lives and we all hope everyone’s happy.
There’s a reality to that that’s true about the young person’s experience.
Is this her last season, or do you envision her recurring again for season 4?
But the world has a way of surprising me and I never say never.
[Laughs] Oh yeah.
It’s like, season 1, we were making a completely different show, but that’s okay.
I’m so proud of her.
It’s sort of insane, right?
Adrian Lyles is in the show this season, and he’s never acted before.
He’s going to be a huge songwriter someday.
Both of them are in season 3 and are an incredibly important part of the show.
There’s a need as the show churns on to keep being noisy in a crowded, loud landscape.
So it was a bunch of pragmatic decisions and conversations that are never easy.
What are you most excited for people to see from season 3?
First of all, we had all female directors this season.
One of those directors was Christine Lakin, who grew up as a famous child star onStep by Step.
So anyway, I’m very proud of our all-female director line-up.
HSMTMTSseason 3 premieres Wednesday on Disney+.
