ET Online is reporting that Zac's girlfriend, fellow High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens has just signed on to play the lead role in CBS Films' The Beastly, a role that many believed would go to Leighton Meester.  The movie is a modern-day take on Beauty and The Beast, with big names like Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser, and Keri Russell already on board.

While she will be playing the "beauty," Vanessa has to learn to see the inner beauty in the "beast," a former hottie who becomes horribly disfigured after a spell is cast on him by a classmate. Vanessa has expressed her desire to branch out with her career, and this sounds like a good starting place!

At least she has someone really, really, really cute to make out with in real life.

Tell us: Are you excited to see Vanessa in a new role? Let us know!