When it was announced that Zac Efron would be playing Ted Bundy in a new film, there were mixed reviews. Bundy, the infamous serial killer, notably lured his victims using his charm and good looks, which Efron has plenty of. But what about his acting? Would the High School Musical actor be able to take on such a serious role?
The producer of the new film, called Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, had no doubts that Efron would be able to pull it off.
"I have been trying to work with Zac Efron for a long time," producer Nicolas Chartier said in an interview. "From his dramatic turn in Paperboy to his hilarious performance in Neighbors, he continues to impress audiences and critics alike with his extraordinary versatility and range. We couldn't be more excited to see him in this amazing role."
The movie will follow Bundy's criminal timeline, but will be told from the perspective of his longtime girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer. She refused to believe the truth about Bundy for years. Kloepfer will be played by Lily Collins, who shared a glimpse of herself in costume almost a year ago.
Around the same time, Efron posted the first glimpse of himself as the notorious Bundy, but it was too far away to get a real feel for what it would be like.
But just recently, Efron shared another picture of him in character on Instagram, and it's safe to say this movie will be a "must-see." Plus, is it wrong to sit here and say that Efron looks disturbingly hot as Bundy? I mean, I guess that's the entire reason they chose him. Bundy's whole thing was that he lured women with his good looks.
This is a picture of Efron as Ted Bundy.
This is an actual picture of Ted Bundy.
In a side-by-side comparison, it's actually eerie how much they look alike.
In a picture that Collins posted, Kloepfer and Bundy are pictured with Kloepfer's daughter. Kloepfer was a single mom when she met Bundy, and was looking for someone to complete her family. While she and Bundy were dating, he was running around slaughtering women.
Big Bang Theory star Jim parsons will also be in this movie, playing lead prosecutor Larry Simpson.
And for those who worry that this movie is going to "glorify" Bundy and his horrific crimes, Efron says otherwise.
"He wasn't a person to be glorified," Efron told Entertainment Tonight. "[The movie] simply tells a story and sort of how the world was able to be charmed over by this guy who was notoriously evil and the vexing position that so many people were put in, the world was put in. It was fun to go and experiment in that realm of reality."
But don't worry, Efron didn't go full method-actor while filming this movie.
"I didn't take it home," he said. "I didn't go full method and I didn't have to like do any weird stuff to anybody to get into character. It's a different type of film."
Bundy was eventually convicted of murder, after a wild trial where he literally proposed to a woman in the courtroom. She said yes. Yikes. The serial killed was later executed at Florida State Prison in 1989 at age 42.
Even though Bundy is dead, Efron is itching to bring the character back to life. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, which kicks off on January 24th, 2019. It's unclear when the movie will hit regular theaters.