With the return of the Disney+ hit High School Musical: The Musical: The Series for season 3, rumors have swirled over when Olivia Rodrigo is actually leaving the show. The High School Musical spinoff helped to launch Rodrigo to stardom, with the former Disney child actor playing one of the leads of the show since 2019. Since the first season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series premiered Rodrigo has become a pop music sensation, scoring numerous awards for her debut studio album, Sour, including a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Her massive success in the music industry coincides with Olivia Rodrigo’s reduced role in HSMTMTS season 3. Season 1 of the show focused on the romance between Rodrigo’s character, Nini Salazar-Roberts, and Joshua Bassett’s Ricky Bowen. However, season 2 saw Nini break up with Ricky and longing to leave East High, the fictional school where the show takes place, raising questions about Rodrigo’s future with the series. While she does reprise her role as Nini in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series season 3, Rodrigo’s part is now that of a recurring player instead of a regular.
Is HSMTMTS Season 3 Olivia Rodrigo’s Last One?
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series season 3 will be Olivia Rodrigo’s last one with the popular Disney show. Nini’s character arc already suggests that an exit is impending, with new episodes featuring her leaving Salt Lake City for Los Angeles to start her music career. Series creator Tim Federle confirmed that Rodrigo’s remaining time on the show is limited and that HSMTMTS will be giving Rodrigo a “proper sendoff.” He added:
“I think [Nini is] ready to explore the world outside the halls of East High. 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. 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 spotlight.”
How Much Will Olivia Rodrigo Be In HSMTMTS Season 3?
Tim Federle’s statement also confirmed that Olivia Rodrigo’s role in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series season 3 will be smaller. This is consistent with the storyline for the show’s third installment, following the ending of HSMTMTS season 2, as it follows the core East High students to summer camp while Nini breaks off on her own to develop her talent with Gina’s music producer brother in California.
How High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Can End Nini’s Story
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series season 3 has an opportunity to come full circle with Olivia Rodrigo’s character. Although Nini won’t be present for the scenes set at Camp Shallow Lake this season, theater camp played an important role in setting up her character and the conflict between her and Ricky in season 1. With Olivia Rodrigo’s reduced role on the show, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series season 3 could feature Nini focusing on her solo career along with one last visit to the place where she found her first spark of independence. This would tie up her arc nicely and give a sense of closure for a true fan-favorite character.
New episodes of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series arrive Wednesdays on Disney+.
