The big issue in negotating a salary for High School Musical is the merchandise. HSM’s money is in the merchandise. But many reports say that none of the actors got any share of that fortune in the first two films. For a studio to negotiate salary, they can consider a balance, namely raising the actor’s salary instead of giving a share on merchandising. There is no indication if any of members of HSM3 got options on merchandise.

But now, this. Ashley Tisale, Vanessa Hudgens, and Zac Efron (all close friends) said in 2008 that this was their last High School Musical.

However, suddenly this weekend a new report says that Efron has now reconsidered doing HSM4. A source reportedly told Life and Style Weekly magazine: “Zac is thinking in the $8 million to $10 million range but it depends on how the movie opens and how desperately they want him back.”

There are huge benefits to Efron doing HSM4 at those salary levels. It brings up Efron’s asking price across other projects. An actor’s best negotiating point on salary is boxoffice draw and previous salary payments. If Efron has a huge draw on High School Musical 3 at the boxoffice, he could EASILY get for High School Musical 4 a salary of $8 million with no options on merchandise. And with that salary level, Efron could turn around and negotiate other film deals in the pipeline with higher salaries.

LALATE has said all along - don’t believe that Hudgens, Tisdale and Efron won’t be back for High School Musical 4. They won’t be back if No 3 is a bomb, or if it’s a hit and Disney doesn’t often them a great salary for number 4.

No confirmation from Disney or Efron about L&S’s report.