High School Musical franchise star, Zac Efron is moving forward as a serious actor. According to Empire, he is set to both star in and produce an adaptation of John Grisham’s novel, The Associate. Efron will portray a Yale Law School graduate, blackmailed by criminals, who force him to spy on the world’s largest law firm.

Grisham’s book, The Associate was originally published in 2009, and is the latest of the author’s work to be adopted for a movie. His other novels that were later adapted into films include, The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Client, A Time to Kill, The Rainmaker, and The Runaway.

The legal thriller began developing into a film at Paramount in 2008, before the book was published. Shia LaBeouf was initially attached to star. Now, Efron is starring and producing with his production company, Ninjas Running Wild, in addition to Red Wagon Entertainment. Producers are currently in the process of attaching a writer for the film adaptation.

Efron is moving back and forth between drama and comedy, allowing him access to different acting behavioral portals. After acting in a few comedies – Neighbors and That Awkward Moment – Efron seems eager to move back into dramatic acting .Other demonstrations his dramatic abilities include Parkland (2013), At Any Price (2012), The Paperboy (2012), and The Lucky One (2012).