High School Musical actor Lucas Grabeel has discussed his character Ryan Evans' sexuality after making a return to the franchise on Disney+.
Popping up in a recent episode of TV spin-off High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Ryan has always remained ambiguous in terms of his sexuality, as the films never addressed it head-on.
This led to much speculation within the franchise's fanbase, and now Grabeel is speaking out.
Related: High School Musical spin-off series future revealed before Disney+ even debuts season 1
He told TV Line: "People have always asked me if Ryan was gay. I've seen a lot of performances from the tours or high schools or community theaters, and they always take Ryan to that place of being way over the top. That's fine, but that's not exactly the way I played it.
"I had a lot of talks with [director Kenny Ortega] about his own experience in high school. He was not out, and he wasn't running around being that way, but he had that energy inside of him."
He added: "It's such an important time in your life, and you're figuring so many things out. Now, thankfully, people are much more accepting and welcoming of other people's differences."
Grabeel referenced how his character liked Kelsey, while also seemingly being really into Zeke in the original movies.
"He didn't need a label, because he wasn't ready for that. He was still learning about himself and about people and where he fit into the world."
Slipping nuances into his performance was always the actor's approach, as he explained: "I wanted people to think, 'That character's more complex than I thought,' instead of saying, 'Oh, he comes out in pink and you know he's gay.'"
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series airs on Disney+.
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