I know he’s adored by HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL fans everywhere, so at the risk of sounding like a pre-teen girl, I still don’t feel Zac Efron is as big of a star as he should be. The guy has a lot of charm and charisma and I’ve been impressed with just about everything he’s been in. But for whatever reason, he can’t seem to find that role that catapults him into superstardom, at least not with adult audiences. All of that might change with the action thriller AUTOBAHN. Zac Efron and Amber Heard (is she or isn’t she dating Johnny Depp?) are set to star as two Americans backpacking through Europe that are hired by drug smugglers. But the job takes a wrong turn and the couple has to hide out along the Autobahn, using the highway to throw off the drug dealers. It sounds like it has a little bit of a TRANSIBBEREAN vibe to it, which isn’t a bad thing. The film will be helmed by British director Eran Creevy, who is quickly making a name for himself with films like SHIFTY and most recently, WELCOME TO THE PUNCH with James McAvoy. Although the latter didn’t fare too well in theaters, it does have its fans and was incredibly stylish, so Creevy might be one to keep your eye on.
Quick funny story about my experience on the Autobahn; I was traveling with a friend from Vienna to Prague and we had a debate about how far the Autobahn extended. I was convinced it went all the way through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Long story short, it doesn’t and we got pulled over for speeding by a very angry Slovakian highway patrolman. I know; another dumb American. So just keep in mind that the Autobahn is primarily in Germany if you’re ever traveling overseas. (THR)