Vanessa Hudgens to star as Leah in “New Moon”? Not Likely

February 3, 2009 by Jane Boursaw

Vanessa Hudgens, Disney cutie and star of the “High School Musical” movies, reportedly auditioned for a role in “New Moon,” the upcoming sequel to last year’s smash-hit vampire flick “Twilight.”

But it’s unlikely she’ll get the part – at least for now.

"I’m not sure about [final] casting, but I had heard Vanessa Hudgens was going up for the part of Leah [Clearwater, a werewolf]," screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, who wrote both films, told PEOPLE at the Directors Guild of America Awards in L.A. Saturday night. "But at the moment, the part of Leah doesn’t happen until the third movie."

Ok, so she could still get it, but Hudgens’ reps have denied she was ever being considered for the role. If she does get it, she’ll have to do some heavy-duty image makeover. Many fans of the series think she’s just plain too sweet looking.

Join Film Gecko’s “New Moon Casting News and Rumors” discussion here!

Image: High School Musical 3, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2008