LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Zac Efron is used to being the big man on campus as the star of “High School Musical,” but now Zac is graduating to his first starring film role.

But as Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush found out, Zac is not ready to leave “High School” behind just yet.

“How close were you to not doing ‘High School Musical 3?’” Billy asked Zac. “It’s time to be honest with Uncle Bushy. You thought about it!”

“Oh gosh. No, seriously I am not going to be the guy who takes ‘High School Musical’ away from all the fans,” Zac said. “We owe everyone too much. ‘High School Musical’ is a project I hold very close to my heart and I am going to complete the franchise.”

Putting a nation of tween hearts at ease, Zac reaffirmed the notion that he has no plans on leaving the role of “HSM” heartthrob Troy Bolton.

Billy laced up his high tops and hit the court with Zac on the set of his new movie “17 Again,” about an adult (played by Matthew Perry) who suddenly becomes a 17-year-old high school student – and that is where Zac comes in.

“Why did you choose this role?” Billy asked him.

“It would have been really easy to go and play a kid. I could’ve done that in any movie. But playing a 37-year-old guy who is a kid is a little bit more interesting,” Zac explained. “It’s great when you have personal experience playing a character. For instance, ‘High School Musical.’ It was pretty easy. I was playing a high school kid in his first love. Everyone has been there – I had just been there.”

Surely the first love Zac refers to would be his on-screen/off-screen sweetheart Vanessa Hudgens. Now as popular tabloid targets, the couple has already survived Vanessa’s nude photo scandal and it’s no wonder Zac prefers to his private life – private.

“Why don’t you talk about your personal life?” Billy asked.

“I think specifically relationships, it’s sacred ground. That’s something that needs to be between two people. Everyone else can get their noses out,” Zac smiled.

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