Will Olivia Rodrigo Return for ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ Season 2?
Nini #Nini
The students of East High are almost ready to raise the curtain on their production of Beauty and the Beast. With actor Olivia Rodrigo releasing solo music, like “Drivers License,” some fans are wondering if she’ll return to the Disney+ original, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, to star alongside Joshua Bassett.
Actors Matt Cornett, Joshua Bassett, and Julia Lester of ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ | Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images Olivia Rodrigo starred in season 1 of ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ on Disney+
They were all in this together. First the first time ever, thanks to Miss Jenn, the students of East High put on a stage production of the iconic Disney Channel original, High School Musical. There, Nini starred as the main character, Gabriella Montez, and actor Rodrigo starred as Nini.
Although this actor recently branched out to work on solo music, including the song “Drivers License,” she’s set to appear in season 2 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, where the cast will put on a stage version of Beauty and the Beast. There may even be more original songs from the actor.
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Will Olivia Rodrigo portray Nini for season 2 of this Disney+ original?
Yes, Rodrigo will portray Nini. However, this character’s fate is still uncertain. After getting back together with Ricky while simultaneously putting on a great performance of High School Musical and getting accepted into a Performing Arts High School, she has some serious decisions to make about her future.
“Playing Nini has been such a wonderful challenge,” Rodrigo said during a 2019 interview with Euphoria Magazine. “She is written so truthfully as an authentic 21st-century teenager finding herself in the world.”
“I find so many bits of myself in her,” she continued. “Sometimes it’s scary how similar her experiences are to my own. I really hope audience members will be able to find pieces of themselves in her too!”
Fans learned a little more about season 2 thanks to the holiday special of this Disney+ original. Carlos confirmed that the theater, which was accidentally burned down during season 1, was being restored to its original glory. Nini and Ricky even appeared hand in hand for the group number “Something in the Air.”
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Olivia Rodrigo wrote music for season 1 of ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’
Aside from her starring role as Nini, Rodrigo wrote original songs for season 1 of this Disney+ original, including “All I Want” and “Just for a Moment.” However, season 2 will most likely feature songs from Beauty and the Beast, as well as an update on Nini post-musical.
“Last season those songs really popped out and developed their own audiences, so I didn’t want to skimp on original songs this season,” creator Tim Federle said during an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
“That’s been just so cool to listen to all of this new music coming in and hear characters sing solos who didn’t get them last season,” he continued, “and really expand and surprise people with just how gifted this cast is.”
Season 2 of this Disney+ mockumentary premieres on May 14.