Vanessa Hudgens Signs on for HSM 3

By: Shannon Gossage

It was also rumored that Hudgens received a "substantial increase" in pay to sign on for the third installment of the hit movie. A source said, "Vanessa is locked for the movie. She is very happy that the deal is done." Disney has refused to comment on whether or not the actress signed on for the next movie and Hudgens rep said, "There is no deal yet. They are still in negotiations. It has also been rumored that Ashley Tisdale and Zac Efron will return for the third movie. Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman are in final negotiations but are expected to sign on as well. The movie is set to begin filming in January 2008 and will be the first in the series to be released on the big screen.

In September, nude photos of Hudgens surfaced on the Internet creating quite a scandal. It was reported at that time that Disney wanted to drop Hudgens due to the scandal, but the reports were false. Hudgens said at the time, "I am embarrassed over this situation and regret ever having ever taken those photos." Disney released a statement at the time that said, "We hope she’s learned a valuable lesson."

In other Hudgens news, she has filed court documents to have a lawsuit brought against her by her old lawyer thrown out. Hudgens is hoping that the fact that she was only 16 when she signed the contract with her former lawyer Brian L. Schall. In September, Schall filed a lawsuit against the actress for breach of contract. He claims she agreed to pay him 5% of her gross earnings from the deals and for up to twelve-months after he ceased being her lawyer. She fired Schall earlier this year saying that his "services were below professional standards." Her new lawyer, Evan N. Spiegel, has invoked California’s Family Code which states "that the contract of a minor is voidable and may be disaffirmed before [age 18] or within a reasonable time afterward." The hearing for this matter has been set for December 5.