Allow us to introduce you to one of your favorite new Disney characters! Carlos, an openly gay theater student in Disney+‘s upcoming series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, is played by Frankie Rodriguez — and we’re already obsessed!
At the D23 Expo on August 23, the actor thanked executive producer and showrunner Tim Federle for the diversity, representation and inclusion included in the new spinoff.
“I think it’s very important. Growing up as a little Mexican gay kid, there’s not really much to look to so I remember after we wrapped just thanking our showrunner Tim [Federle] for creating a character like Carlos,” the star told Variety. “He’s not a gimmick. He’s not the butt of a joke. He’s just a kid, existing in high school who loves musical theater and has a passion for it.”
We are so here for this! In case you missed it, Disney dropped the official trailer for the show on August 23. Check it out!
The series, which hits the Disney+ streaming platform on November 12, stars quite a few Disney Channel actors!
Yep, the cast includes Bizaardvark‘s Olivia Rodrigo, Andi Mack‘s Sofia Wylie, Freaky Friday‘s Dara Renee and Stuck in the Middle‘s Joshua Bassett. Plus, you might recognize Matt Cornett — who plays EJ — from Nickelodeon’s Bella and the Bulldogs and Game Shakers! Also starring in the show are Kate Reinders, Julia Lester, Larry Saperstein, Mark St. Cyr and more. Yep, it is most definitely a star-studded cast.
The story will follow the journey of a group of East High students preparing for their school’s production of High School Musical. It takes place over a decade after the original movies, bringing a whole new vibe to the franchise we all know and love.
It really is the start of something new!
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