What time is it? Summertime! And the Wildcats are heading to Camp Shallow Lake in the latest season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. While the campers explore new relationships and try to put together the camp’s first every production of Frozen, big things are happening in the background.
Along with guest stars—including High School Musical star Corbin Bleu and JoJo Siwa—Season 3 is also going to have some changes. One big change is how much of Olivia Rodrigo’s character Nini we actually see this season. Olivia recently finished touring her debut album Sour, and with a worldwide tour on the schedule, Olivia had less time for filming. It seems like that isn’t the only reason we’re seeing less of Nini, though. Olivia might be leaving.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, creator and showrunner Tim Federle revealed that the “drivers license” singer will is “ready to explore the world outside of the halls of East High.”
After leaving East High in Season 2 to go to Los Angeles, Nini is at camp, but it looks like she’s phasing out of the story. “And Olivia herself was having such a monumental explosion in the music industry that it felt like the right thing to, frankly, work with Olivia to say, ‘How do we get you out there into the world with us taking a little bit more of a backseat?’ Which we were all proud to do to support her,” Tim told ET. “And so this season it’s about trying to give her character a proper sendoff while also leaving room for other characters to really step into the fray and step into the spotlight.”
So is this season Olivia’s last? Season 4 of HSMTMTS has already been confirmed, and while a cast announcement has not been made, it looks like Olivia might not be making an appearance. There are no hard feelings, though! Tim told ET, “And personally, it’s a joy to see Olivia’s music explode in such a big way. It was so fun to have her back and reminisce on the beginning.”
We love to see Olivia growing, and we’re excited to see what she has planned post-HSMTMTS!
Season 3 of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is streaming on Disney+ starting July 27. Check out the trailer below!