Former "High School Musical" star Zac Efron, who successfully moved into adult fare last year with "17 Again," is quietly establishing his credentials as a Hollywood producer.
His Warner Bros.-based banner — Ninjas Runnin' Wild Prods. — is aggressively seeking vehicles and opportunities for the 22-year-old actor, rather than waiting for the studios to come calling.
The latest project to join the development slate is an untitled workplace comedy, which would reunite Efron with the producers behind "17 Again," Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot. at Offspring Entertainment banner. The high school body-switch comedy grossed $136 million worldwide last year.
In addition to that comedy, the following projects are in development at NRW:
—"Art of the Steal," set up at Warners three weeks ago. The project, centering on a master thief, is based on a Wired magazine article by Joshua Bearman;
—"Einstein Theory," a time-travel story intended to be an Efron vehicle. Among the producers is Nick Stoller, director of "Get Him to the Greek";
—"Fire," based on the Brian Michael Bendis graphic novel about a college student recruited to take part in a special CIA training program;
—"Snabba cash," a remake of a Swedish thriller.
Efron next stars in the coming-of-age drama "Charlie St. Cloud," which Universal opens July 30.