Zac Efron has been compared to everything from 'a drug dealer' to 'a Panini' after sharing a Flashback Friday pic of him sporting a rather questionable look.
In the photo, which was posted on Instagram this week with the caption 'beast mode', the Baywatch actor can be seen sporting bleach blonde hair and a bizarre stripy beard:
Before you start questioning whether Efron's finally lost it after maintaining heartthrob status for so many years, the look was actually for his upcoming role in the movie The Beach Bum, the title of which couldn't be more apt.
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Even though the odd look is for a movie role, it didn't stop the Internet from ripping him to shreds. "No offense but Zac efron looks like a drug dealer," wrote one Twitter user, while others went off-tangent in impressive fashion:
Well done Twitter, well done.
It certainly is a far cry from his teeny-bopper High School Musical days.
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For those of you curious about the film, The Beach Bum is a new offering from Harmony Korine, who made a splash in 2012 with Spring Breakers (which you might remember starred Efron's ex Vanessa Hudgens.)
The plot details are pretty scarce, although the brief synopsis does reveal it will centre on a rebellious stoner named Moondog (Matthew McConaughey) who 'lives life by his own rules'.
We're looking forward to watching another avant-garde offering from Korine and we're also looking forward to seeing Efron's bizarre new look in the flesh.
It seems Efron is determined to break free from his old clean image and gain some real respect in the movie world as a serious actor.
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In addition to this upcoming flick, Efron's been working on Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, following the story of Ted Bundy's extremely wicked, shockingly evil and vile murders from the point of view of his girlfriend, Liz, played by Lily Collins.
The actor is playing the famed serial killer who gained notoriety for raping and murdering dozens of women. And from the early-look set images, he's got the perfect look for the role.
From necrophilic killer to Panini-faced beach bum, we're super excited to see Efron fulfilling some more unconventional roles.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Instagram, TV and Film, Celebrity, Twitter, Zac Efron