As I posted last week, the trailer for High School Musical 3: Senior Year was scheduled to hit Disney yesterday, and it did. You can check it out big or small and shnazzy over at Disney.com, but since it's location-locked, I'm including the YouTube video of the premiere after the jump -- and make sure you head on over to Moviefone to see their exclusive photos (including the one above) from the film.

Now it's mostly what you'd figure -- the perfect-looking kids singing pop songs while dealing with the woes of big-screen high school. In this case, it's basketball and lots of romance, but there's also some Footloose flavor in there. Well, that's what I'm assuming since the trailer shows some clips of Zac Efron dancing about in a plaid shirt and a white tee in an industrial yard. But seeing that he takes that look into the classroom -- is plaid back in style?!

The kids finally get to graduate this October 24.

Cinematical was just sent this brand new poster for High School Musical 3: Senior Year! This one hits the big screen on October 24th, and it marks the return of all your favorite High School Musical-ers like Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. From the official synopsis: "High School Musical 3: Senior Year finds high school seniors Troy (Efron) and Gabriella (Hudgens) facing the prospect of separation as they head off to different colleges. Joined by the rest of the Wildcats, they stage an elaborate spring musical reflecting their experiences, hopes and fears about the future. With incredible new music and exciting dance numbers designed to take maximum advantage of the big screen, this motion picture extravaganza delivers plenty of high-energy entertainment from East High's talented ensemble."

I don't think we need to tell you that this one is gonna be HUGE ... with a capital "We Love You Zac!" High School Musical 3: Senior Year touches down right on our hearts this October 24th.

Poor Disney ... They must have been aching at the thought of their High School Musical franchise coming to an end once number 3 hits the big screen. It's been an insane sensation, and certainly good for both the company and channel. But what do you do when it all comes to an end? You could look for new material, or you could spin it.

Variety reports that Walt Disney Pictures has picked Steven Antin (jerky prep Troy from The Goonies) to write and direct a new musical project for them, which will be produced by Scott Sanders (who recently developed The Color Purple musical). The plot and title are being kept under wraps, but they might as well call it High School Musical 4: The Next Generation. Antin says: "It's a music-driven movie set in a high school, geared toward a Disney audience." Gee, how original.

But we just might get a bit of a breather before it comes out. Antin has finished part of the screenplay, and says that this project is "neck and neck" with Burlesque for filming this fall -- he had written the script, and Diablo Cody spunked it up with a rewrite. Either way, we're not out of the musical woods yet. Stay tuned to see who wins the showdown between burlesque and teen singers!

Do a little dance, make a little [fun with Disney] .... get down tonight -- oh yeah, get down tonight. Us Weekly reports Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale will indeed reprise their ultra-popular roles for the upcoming High School Musical 3. Not only that, but their "sources" say Hudgens will receive a "substantial increase" in pay. See kids, that's what you get for going nekked on the internet. Earlier this year, Hudgens was head-deep in a scandal which involved nude photographs of the actress that were spread online; photographs she apparently took in private for her boyfriend and High School Musical co-star Zac Efron. At first it wasn't clean whether the family-friendly Disney would allow Hudgens to return to the series, but then they came out and stood by her -- saying something like "we hope she's learned a valuable lesson."

Not long ago, a rumor claiming Hudgens was dumped by Disney spread like wildfire across these very same internets; a rumor that was very quickly shot down. Now, if Us Weekly is to be believed, the actress will not only be back for part three, but she'll be back with a heavier wallet. Kudos to the folks who negotiated her contract -- I imagine they used Jedi mind tricks on the Disney heads: "You will ask Vanessa to return. And you will pay her more money. And you will take those nude pics of her off your computer." Disney would not confirm the casting reports, only that everyone (including Hudgens) was still in negotiations. Chances are Efron will also reprise his role, though his publicist said a deal is not yet signed. So what do you think about this whole thing? Should Vanessa have opted out of High School Musical and looked for some more adult-themed roles? Or if she smart for remaining on this money train a little while longer?