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How Vanessa Hudgens feels about the constant ‘High School Musical’ references

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Miguel Dumaual, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/entertainment/01/24/vanessa-hudgens.jpg"/><figcaption>Vanessa Hudgens as Gabriella in ‘High School Musical’ (2006), and as Kelly in ‘Bad Boys For Life’ (2020). <em>Disney Channel/Columbia Pictures</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — It’s been 14 years since the original “High School Musical” was released, but its star, Vanessa Hudgens, still constantly hears a reference to the Disney film today.</p><p>In fact, “High School Musical” comes up in Hudgens’ latest film, which has zero connection to the musical franchise and sees her in a role so far removed from the singing Gabriella.</p><p>In “Bad Boys For Life,” which debuted in the Philippines on January 22, Hudgens portrays Kelly, an agent from the tech-driven Advanced Miami Metro Operations (AMMO).</p><p>Will Smith’s Mike describes the group as a “high school musical boy band with guns,” just as Kelly is shown with her fellow agents, in a trailer of the third installment of the “Bad Boys” series.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2tE-ey9s-OU?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>“I hear a ‘High School Musical’ reference multiple times a week!” Hudgens told ABS-CBN News via e-mail. “However, it is something I find joy in. It allows me to reminisce a bit and connect to my younger self. That project opened up so many doors for me and I’ll always be grateful for that.”</p><p>Indeed, since her breakthrough role in the 2006 film, Hudgens has had no shortage of big-screen projects, often juggling disparate genres from drama, comedy, musical, to action.</p><p>“Something I really pride myself in is breaking out of my comfort zone and I’m always up for a challenge,” she said of her choice of roles.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/entertainment/01/24/df-02595.jpg"/><figcaption>Vanessa Hudgens portrays AMMO agent Kelly in ‘Bad Boys For Life.’ <em>Columbia Pictures</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>“I learn something new from each project I do and take those lessons with me to my next project,” she added.</p><p>Where genres are concerned, Hudgens’ casting as Kelly posed a unique challenge for the actress, as it came immediately after she starred in the live TV special “Rent” as Maureen.</p><p>She recalled that she “actually had to leave the ‘Rent’ set and head straight to the airport to catch a flight to Atlanta for ‘Bad Boys’ production.”</p><p>“I was thrown right into it, but wouldn’t change that one bit,” Hudgens said.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/entertainment/01/24/df-01432.jpg"/><figcaption>Vanessa Hudgens (right) portrays AMMO agent Kelly in ‘Bad Boys For Life.’ <em>Columbia Pictures</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Clinching the part was a “dream come true” for Hudgens, specifically as it meant working with Smith and Martin Lawrence in what’s billed as the “retirement” movie of the franchise.</p><p>“We all had such a great time making the film – I couldn’t have imagined a better group to do this project with,” Hudgens said.</p><p>In “Bad Boys For Life,” Miami detective Marcus (Lawrence), who is set on retiring to focus on his family, reluctantly teams up again with Mike (Smith) after a new threat puts the latter’s life in danger.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/entertainment/01/24/df-05126.jpg"/><figcaption>Vanessa Hudgens (center) portrays AMMO agent Kelly in ‘Bad Boys For Life.’ <em>Columbia Pictures</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>The tandem gets help from AMMO, including Hudgens’ Kelly, whom she described as “badass.”</p><p>“That is one of the main reasons I was excited to do this project!” she said, referring to Kelly being a strong female figure in a predominantly male action film.</p><p>“I think as an industry we need to continue making strong roles for females, both in front of the camera and behind the camera,” Hudgens said.</p>

<p>In fact, “High School Musical” comes up in Hudgens’ latest film, which has zero connection to the musical franchise and sees her in a role so far removed from the singing Gabriella.</p>

In fact, “High School Musical” comes up in Hudgens’ latest film, which has zero connection to the musical franchise and sees her in a role so far removed from the singing Gabriella.

How Vanessa Hudgens feels about the constant ‘High School Musical’ references

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How Vanessa Hudgens feels about the constant ‘High School Musical’ references

Miguel Dumaual,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 24, 2020 06:21 PM PHT

Read More:

Vanessa Hudgens

Bad Boys For Life

High School Musical

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