Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake Were Originally Supposed to Star in ‘High School Musical’

High School Musical was a hallmark movie for pop culture at large. The 2006 Disney Channel movie featured an iconic soundtrack and a cast of up-and-coming actors whose characters were navigating the ups and downs of high school life. What many people don’t know is that the parts made famous by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens were almost played by Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake — both rising stars at the time — were reportedly supposed to star in the film as the children of Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson from the classic 1978 movie. The plot of Grease 3 was almost identical to that of High School Musical but was closer to Grease in style.

Spears and Timberlake’s Mickey Mouse Club co-star Christina Aguilera was also a new young singer in 1999. She was approached by producers to play the daughter of Betty Rizzo in the movie, but she declined. Meanwhile, Timberlake’s *NSYNC bandmates were going to have supporting roles, and even Travolta and Newton-John were in talks to make a cameo.

Showbiz CheatSheet