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Topics: News, Film and TV
Keryn Donnelly
Ryan Evans is finally living his best life.
Lucas Grabeel has reprised his role as one half of the Evans twins in the fourth and final season of the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
And it seems a lot has happened in Ryan's life since he graduated from East High School.
In a preview of the upcoming HSMTMTS season, Ryan is seen kissing another man and thanking him for showing up to watch him perform with former classmates Chad Danforth (Corbin Bleu), Taylor McKessie (Monique Coleman) and Martha Cox (Kaycee Stroh).
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"This means so much to me that you're here," Ryan says as the two meet backstage. "Gimme that mic."
High School Musical director Kenny Ortega has previously said he always intended for Ryan to be gay but he didn't think audience would be comfortable with it when the franchise first hit cinemas in 2006.
"I was concerned because it was family and kids, that Disney might not be ready to cross that line and move into that territory yet," he explained to Variety in 2020.
"So, I just took it upon myself to make choices that I felt that those who were watching would grab.
"They would see it, they would feel it, they would know it, and they would identify with it.
"And that is what happened."
Ortega isn't involved in the followup series but he always thought that Ryan would 'come out' at college.
"It was less about coming out," he said.
"And just more about letting his true colors come forward."
Lucas Grabeel told TVLine in 2019: “People have always asked me if Ryan was gay. I’ve seen a lot of performances from the tours or high schools or community theaters, and they always take Ryan to that place of being way over the top.
"That’s fine, but that’s not exactly the way I played it."
"I had a lot of talks with [director Kenny Ortega] about his own experience in high school. He was not out … but he had that energy inside of him.
"It’s such an important time in your life, and you’re figuring so many things out. Now, thankfully, people are much more accepting and welcoming of other people’s differences.”
Grabeel, Bleu, McKessie and Cox have returned to the franchise along with Bart Johnson, aka Coach Bolton, and Alyson Reed, aka Ms Darbus.
Troy Bolton (Zac Efron), Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) and Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale) are mentioned in the latest teaser but not seen.
"Have you seen Sharpay, Troy or Gabriella?" Coach Bolton asks, to which Martha responds: "Not yet, coach. They have been silent in the group chat."
The fourth and final season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series premieres on Disney+ on August 8.