View gallery
It’s formally senior 12 months for many of the Wildcats, and a few newbies are going to be shaking issues up in Excessive Faculty Musical: The Musical: The Sequence season 4. A kind of characters is the sassy and pushed Dani, performed by Disney Channel alum Kylie Cantrall. You’ll undoubtedly be feeling Sharpay Evans vitality from this character.
HollywoodLife spoke EXCLUSIVELY with Kylie forward of the ultimate season’s premiere on August 9. She teased that Dani “needs the highlight,” and she or he’ll go to nice lengths to get it. The actress and singer additionally opened up about getting into the Descendants universe and her newest single. (Word: this interview came about previous to the SAG-AFTRA strike.)
How does it really feel to hitch the HSMTMTS franchise?
Kylie Cantrall: I began watching the unique HSM after I was a bit of child, and I keep in mind the third film was caught on repeat in my home. So, to reply “what does this imply to me” is so tough to reply. Surreal or a “pinch me second” might be the one solution to describe it. After I received the decision from my agent, I fainted. After I wakened, I used to be in East Excessive, in full hair and make-up, filming a close-up whereas dancing to “I Need It All.” That’s how briskly all of it occurred.
Had been you solid in season 4 earlier than or after engaged on the brand new Descendants film with Dara [Reneé]?
Kylie Cantrall: I used to be solid in HSM first, then Descendants about 6 weeks later. However a wierd twist to the story is that Dara and I labored on a Disney particular referred to as Descendants Remix Dance Social gathering a number of years again, however neither of us would have ever believed we’d be bringing this new Descendants chapter to life. And truly, Sofia Wylie was on the present with us too. So loopy! I simply keep in mind wanting as much as each of them a lot, and I used to be simply excited to be making TikToks with them in between photographs.
How does Dani match into the world of HSMTMTS season 4?
Kylie Cantrall: Properly, Dani doesn’t actually attempt to “slot in.” She actually makes it her mission to face out as a result of she’s the kind of woman that desires the highlight and all the eye in each room she walks into. That’s what actually drew me to the Dani character, getting an opportunity to play somebody so sassy and overly assured. I undoubtedly suppose I’m far more delicate in actual life although.
Will she be a buddy or foe for the Wildcats?
Kylie Cantrall: I do know I’m not supposed to offer quite a bit away, so I’ll simply say this: Dani shouldn’t be coming to East Excessive to make associates. She is available in with one objective, and that’s to take over the college. It’s going to be so enjoyable to see what followers take into consideration her. She is fairly spicy so that you both love her or hate her. I undoubtedly love her…however perhaps I’m a bit of biased.
Dani undoubtedly offers off Sharpay vibes. Had been you impressed by the unique Excessive Faculty Musical character?
Kylie Cantrall: Dani undoubtedly offers off Sharpay vibes, however I additionally needed to tug from another traditional highschool teen villains. I attempted so as to add a bit of Regina George and ‘Maddy Perez. I don’t know why I’ve all the time beloved these imply woman characters. I believe we deep down love a personality that is available in and brings the drama.
Are you able to tease any of Dani’s musical numbers?
Kylie Cantrall: I don’t actually need to give something away, however I’ll say Dani is coming in HOT. She needs everybody to know that she has an agenda to be the star of East Excessive. From day one, she is fearless in grabbing the mic and ensuring her vocals are heard.
What impressed your upcoming single?
Kylie Cantrall: I began this sequence on my TikTok referred to as “10 Minute Songs” the place my followers give me three phrases, and I’ve 10 minutes to put in writing a tune round these phrases. I by no means thought it might result in my subsequent single, but it surely sparked this tune referred to as “Textual content Go Inexperienced.” It’s a few buddy concerned in a poisonous relationship, and it’s killing you to see your buddy going by means of a lot unhappiness, so you haven’t any alternative however to inform them, “You’re so significantly better than that. It’s time to maneuver on.” It’s loopy to me to know that this comes from precise conversations in my life. Possibly that’s what makes it so relatable. I believe we’ve all been there earlier than.
You’re becoming a member of one other large franchise with Descendants: The Rise of Purple. Was it intimidating in any respect stepping as much as the plate for this subsequent chapter?
Kylie Cantrall: Yeah, it’s nonetheless unbelievable I went to purchase some balloons at Social gathering Metropolis final week and noticed a complete Descendants part. I wandered up and down the aisle pondering, “Wow, subsequent 12 months that is going to be us [the new cast] on these plates, napkins, and decorations.” We wrapped the film in March, so it’s killing me figuring out what number of superb songs, dance numbers, struggle scenes, stunts, and so forth are coming quickly. I can’t look ahead to a complete new technology to say, “I grew up on Descendants.” I suppose it means a lot to me as a result of I used to be a type of children saying that only a few years in the past.
How would you say Purple compares to unique Descendants leads Mal and Evie?
Kylie Cantrall: Properly, I believe the followers of the opposite Descendants motion pictures can be so comfortable that the general vibe has stayed true to the franchise, however the writers undoubtedly needed to discover a new voice for the character Purple. We get to see a personality who’s scuffling with looking for her personal independence and breaking free from her mother’s [the Queen of Hearts] evil clutches. Purple is bored with being advised easy methods to reside her life and realizes she has issues with constructing friendships as a result of she doesn’t belief individuals. I believe this pertains to so many younger people who find themselves making an attempt to determine the place they slot in and, ultimately, it’s the relationships she varieties that give her life a lot love and that means. Purple teaches us all that you must belief that there’s a higher life out for us all on the market.
How did you react while you realized Rita Ora can be taking part in your mother?
Kylie Cantrall: I used to be in literal disbelief. I used to be really obsessive about Rita’s tune “Black Widow” after I was a child, in order that was really one of many first ideas that got here to my thoughts after I came upon she was going to play my mother. Does this imply we’ll get to sing “Black Widow” and harmonize collectively between takes? We really by no means did… however hey, Rita, in case you are studying this, let’s do a “Black Widow” duet subsequent time I see you!
Click on to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Every day E-newsletter to get the most popular celeb information.