“High School Musical” character Ryan Evans is officially gay – and still fabulous.
Lucas Grabeel reprises his role as Ryan, one half of the Evans twins alongside Ashley Tisdale’s Sharpay in the original Disney movie franchise, in the fourth and final season of TV spinoff “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.”
The East High alum shares a same-sex kiss in a sneak peek for the Disney+ show on Tuesday, confirming 15 years of speculation that Ryan is queer.
The clip shows Ryan stepping off stage to thank a man for coming to his show. “You look amazing, this is so cool! This means so much to me that you are here.”
“I love you,” the mystery man says before they share a quick smooch.
Grabeel initially starred in “High School Musical” for three films between 2006 to 2008. He later reprised his role in one episode of “HSMTMTS” Season 1.
Kenny Ortega, who directed the movie trilogy, previously discussed Ryan’s alluded sexuality.
“I was concerned because it was family and kids, that Disney might not be ready to cross that line and move into that territory yet,” Ortega told Variety in 2020. “So, I just took it upon myself to make choices that I felt that those who were watching would grab.”
The director, who is gay, said he preferred to make Ryan queer-coded out of the worry that Disney would not approve of him being out.
“(Viewers) would see it, they would feel it, they would know it and they would identify with it. And that is what happened,” Ortega said.
Ortega is not involved with the Disney+ series.
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After Ortega’s sentiments about Ryan’s sexuality, Grabeel said that as a straight man he was unsure whether not he would play the character if it was offered to him today.
“There’s so many amazingly talented gay actors that could do it as well, so if ‘High School Musical’ was made today, I don’t know if I would play Ryan,” Grabeel told TMZ in 2020. “I would love to, but the last thing I want to do is take an opportunity away from other people.”
He added: “As a straight white man, I know that even without trying, I have taken opportunities away from other people.”
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“HSMTMTS” debuts its final season on Aug. 9. In addition to Grabeel, fellow “High School Musical” alums Monique Coleman, Corbin Bleu and Kaycee Stroh are featured in the trailer.
Leads Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens also teased involvement last year, sharing a photo and video, respectively, outside of East High.
