Grease up your gearshift, sailor, because Zac Efron’s gonna be in another movie.  But not just any movie.  A sexy movie.

Zac Efron has signed to star in an untitled thriller for Mandate Pictures, which is being written by Leslie Dixon.

The plot is being kept under wraps but it is described as “a sexy thriller.” The deal continues the evolution of Efron from the teen heartthrob of the “High School Musical” franchise to a more mature leading man, and also sees him stepping into producing shoes.

The producer shoes are five sizes too big – he likes to make a mustache out of charcoal and then waddle around in them like Charlie Chaplin, it’s the cutest!  Anyway, I’m not saying I’d rape Zac Efron in prison, but I’d sure as hell watch.

[via THR]

The road to obscurity can be lonely.  That’s why Val Kilmer and Stephen Dorff use the buddy system.

They both star in Felon, a prison movie directed by Ric Roman Waugh, who’s known more for his stunt work, which is probably why the movie is so heavy on the fighting.  It looks like a cross between Oz and Never Back Down.  I went to prison once, but no one messed with me because I kept my hair slicked back and a pack of cigarettes rolled up in my sleeve.  Plus I had a really great singing voice.  

Also starring Jermaine Washington as "Large Black Inmate". 

After the jump I’ve got the trailer for The Escapist, which premiered at Sundance and will be out June 20 in the UK – still no U.S. release date.

Frank Perry (Cox) is an institutionalized convict twelve years into a life sentence without parole. When his estranged daughter falls ill, he is determined he make peace with her before it’s too late. He develops an ingenious escape plan, and recruits a dysfunctional band of escapists – misfits with a mutual dislike for one other but united by their desire to escape their hell hole of an existence. Much of the action takes place within the tunnels, sewers and underground rivers of subterranean London.

Brian Cox is one of those guys I’d watch paint a house, but this looks kind of cheesy.  Plus, a prison movie and not one shot of guys making out?  What’s up with that?  …Hold on, I’m getting some new info here:

…Then there’s the inevitable prison homosexuality, including a bizarre drag parade and a rape that ends in violent retaliation. [Review in the Hollywood Reporter]

Sorry, nevermind.  Clearly this will be awesome.

Wow, now there's a headline that could be a gay porn title.  Burr Steers – that's a real man's name.  It's like Brock Hardslab, or Rod Shrapnelwood.  Anyway, according to the Hollywood Reporter, he's on board to direct 17, a New Line comedy starring Zac Efron.  The film will be produced by Adam Shankman, who directed Bringing Down the House, The Pacifier, Cheaper By the Dozen 2, and Hairspray and yet is somehow still allowed to make movies.  Curiously, The Pacifier is known as Gnome in the Phillipines.

The script, written by Jason Filardi, concerns a grown man who finds himself as a 17-year-old trying to navigate high school. The studio picked up the project as a pitch this past winter.

Jesus, what was the pitch?  "It'll be like Freaky Friday, Never Been Kissed, Vice Versa, Like Father Like Son, 18 Again! … But with Zac Efron!" You know you're original when your plot outline has its own Wikipedia entry.

In conclusion, I would rape Zac Efron in prison.