The trade mag reports that the young star, also seen in "Summerland," has landed the role originated on Broadway by Matthew Morrison. The actor will appear opposite the 17-year-old New Yorker Nicole Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad. Efron and Blonsky will play with the previously announced cast of John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle and Amanda Bynes as Penny Pingleton in the New Line Cinema film, which will be directed by Adam Shankman.

Featuring a screenplay by Leslie Dixon, “Hairspray” — with a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman — should hit movie theatres in summer 2007. Shankman and producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are planning a Sept. 5 start for filming as per Variety.

Hairspray, based on the 1988 John Waters film of the same name, currently plays the Neil Simon Theatre. The show won 2003 Tony Awards for Best Score (Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman), Best Book (Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell), Best Actress in a Musical (Marissa Jaret Winokur), Best Actor (Harvey Fierstein), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Dick Latessa), Best Costume Design (William Ivey Long), Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical.