Corbin Bleu reflects on lasting impact of ‘High School Musical’

In its initial years, Corbin Bleu tried to distance himself from his High School Musical image. But as the hit franchise crossed its 18th anniversary in January, Bleu admits that he is “grateful” to have been part of such an iconic film.

Speaking to People Magazine, the 35-year-old actor and singer admitted, “it still is staggering to me how much of an impact that [HSM] continues to have.”

He further reflected, “There are new generations that continue to experience it, and be introduced to it. And I feel like, at this point, it’s just a part of the musical theater canon. And I’m honestly just grateful. I’m grateful to have been a part of such a beautiful thing.”

He added, “When I look back on it now, it is my childhood, and it is something that I would never trade for the world.”

The former Disney star admitted though “there was a time when I was trying to distance myself from it to try to do other things,” he has a newfound appreciation for the films.

He reflected, “But at this point now when I look on it, I feel like it’s just a completely different person that I can look at, and go, ‘We did that.’”