Zac Efron
Photo: MTV News

BEVERLY HILLS, California — He's one of the latest products to come off the Disney assembly line, a squeaky-clean teen heartthrob loved for his charming smile, knee-buckling wink and non-threatening good looks. His "High School Musical" movies and soundtracks have made more than a billion dollars, and his upcoming movie "17 Again" could make him Hollywood's newest leading man.

Now Hollywood is wondering: Why is Zac Efron rolling around in the mud with a nude supermodel?

"We didn't go in there with the intention of shaking things up," the 21-year-old actor told us over the weekend about the controversial, steamy photos of himself and Lithuanian beauty Edita Vilkeviciute in the newest issue of Interview magazine. "At least, I didn't."

The black-and-white photos depict a wet, muscular Efron lying in the sand and embracing Vilkeviciute on the beach. Although the actor — who has dated his "High School Musical" co-star Vanessa Hudgens for more than three years — bares only his arms, the model shows no such discretion. The smoldering photos leave little doubt that Efron is eager to get beyond his teen-star status, with one shot even putting Vilkeviciute's bare breast in front of his face.

Nevertheless, Zac insisted that he wasn't trying to be provocative. "I had no idea what was going to happen," Efron said of the shoot, remembering his game plan with a renowned Swedish photographer. "Mikael Jansson was shooting some really cool photos, and we were having a lot of fun."

As Efron admitted, that fun was taken to a whole different level when Jansson put him and Vilkeviciute into a giant sandbox in the middle of the studio, and over the course of several hours, the photos got even more scandalous. "It felt more artistic than anything I had done before," Efron remembered. "So we just went with it."

Along with the magazine's interview by acclaimed "Milk" director Gus Van Sant, Efron's photos are consistent with his newfound desire to leave musicals behind and launch an edgier career path. But, although Hudgens has voiced her approval of the photos, many in Efron's longtime audience were shocked.

"It was very laid-back and relaxed," Efron said of the controversial photos, flashing a grin. "So far, I am not really sure of everyone's reactions. But no one has tried to kill me yet."

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Chace Crawford
Photo: Jon Shearer/WireImage

Just a week after Zac Efron dropped out of the "Footloose" remake, we've gotten word that another pretty face has been linked to the project. According to reports, "Gossip Girl" star Chace Crawford has auditioned for the role.

"He did really well," a source told E! News. Crawford's name originally came up after gossip blogs and Web sites began suggesting him as a replacement for Efron.

After Efron dropped out of the film to pursue other types of roles, Paramount released a statement saying they remain committed to the Kenny Ortega-helmed film. Ortega also did the "High School Musical" movies with Efron.

" 'Footloose' is a project we've longed to see rebooted for a new generation. While Zac is no longer attached, we remain excited and committed to the collective brain trust of [director] Kenny Ortega, [producers] Neil Meron and Craig Zaden, who will reinvigorate the franchise," a Paramount Pictures rep told UsMagazine.com. "Their fresh take on the film will undoubtedly be filled with the same kind of breakout performances that we've come to expect from them."

Just days after Efron dropped out of "Footloose," it was announced he'd be in the more serious film, "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud," which will be directed by his "17 Again" director Burr Steers. The film is about "a caretaker at a cemetery who manages to have weekly meetings with a younger brother whose accidental death he feels was his fault."

Reps for Crawford and "Footloose" did not respond to comment from MTV News.

Check out everything we've got on "Footloose."

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Zac Efron
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Zac Efron has a face that screams "teen dream." The combination of his dreamy baby blue eyes, perfectly coiffed hair and bronze skin gets teen girls everywhere all fired up — which is probably why it seems he was born to play basketball stud Troy Bolton in the "High School Musical" franchise.

But with Troy graduating from high school, Efron isn't satisfied to be just the Disney pretty boy. He's already lined up a few more films, and his two upcoming projects find him showing his chops as an actor and a teen heartthrob. Efron is set to star in another teen flick, "17 Again," as well as a literary drama about Orson Welles.

Efron is also slated to start work on a remake of "Footloose," in which he'll reprise the role made famous by Kevin Bacon. Earlier this month, Bacon gave Efron his blessing, and Efron is pumped about the endorsement. "It's great," he said. "I couldn't be more excited. He's the man."

A role Efron would really like to sink his teeth into is the one he's rumored to have in the recently announced fourth installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean." Efron thinks it would be "awesome" to join the cast but denies knowing anything about it. "No one has talked to me about it," he insisted. "I didn't know anything about that. [But] cross your fingers for me, guys!"

In the end, he owes it all to "High School Musical," a film series that has given him the chance to live out his childhood dreams of acting. "A lot of high school wasn't as fun. But it's really been a high school experience for a lot of us," he said. "We've been through a lot together."

And, this time around, one scene in particular — a dance sequence for the song "The Boys Are Back" — really solidified his love of dancing on the big screen. "When we got to the junkyard, everything just opened up for us," he explained. "We had all these props and cars. It was like a dream come true. I've wanted to do that since I was, like, 5."

Efron admitted that he loves the challenge of trying to make dancing look hip and masculine for the film — and it was a challenge he took on without any reservations. "I mean, we're guys," he said. "We're always going to try to do the most guy version of a dance. We're gonna look different than when we do the same moves as a girl."

Check out everything we've got on "High School Musical 3: Senior Year."

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Zac Efron
Photo: F Micelotta/ TCA 2008/ Getty Images

If Melora Hardin were 17 again, she would definitely have a thing for Zac Efron.

The "Office" actress appears with Efron in the movie "Seventeen Again," due next year. In the flick, she plays his school principal, and after working with him, she totally understands what all the hoopla is about: Hardin said he's every bit as attractive as people make him out to be.

"He is a dreamboat. If I were that age and single, I'd be in so much trouble," she said. "I said, 'You'd be exactly my type.' He liked it — he was like, 'That would be great.' I was of course teasing but of course not teasing."

In addition to his physical attributes, Hardin notes that Efron is a very sweet guy. "He's just a lovely, lovely person," she said. "He's so nice and grounded and sweet as can be. He's the real deal. He's a teen idol."

Speaking of teen idols, Hardin also had the chance to work with Miley Cyrus on the "Hannah Montana" movie being released next year. She said that despite achieving staggering success at such a young age, Miley is extremely grounded and focused.

"She was great. She's a very normal 15-year-old girl, and I guess that makes her extraordinary, considering the circumstances," Hardin said. "She works hard and she's got a good attitude. I think with the right direction and the right choices, she can do some great things."

Hardin plays Billy Ray Cyrus' character's love interest in the film, and she found the role a welcome change of pace from her overly ambitious character, Jan, on "The Office." "He's a very nice guy, and we had a real good time together," she said. "She's such a different character than Jan. She's earthy, with no ulterior motives."

But soon enough, Hardin will be back to playing the now-pregnant, on-again/off-again love interest to Steve Carell's character, Michael Scott. "You know she'll either be a great mother or be the greatest example of what not to be as a mother," she said. "It'll be interesting to see Michael and Jan now. They always have a power struggle. He had it all last season, and now she's got it back again, and it keeps them an interesting couple."

Hardin also spoke about the spinoff rumors surrounding "The Office."

"I think [creator] Greg Daniels doesn't want to disrupt the magic that happens over at 'The Office,' " she said. "I know a lot of people felt Jan would be a perfect character for a spinoff, and she is, but she's important to Michael and his evolution as a man. She adds a real fight. She's that surprise spice that makes the dish."

Check out everything we've got on "Seventeen Again."

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