Photo: zacefron on Instagram

Amidst the release of his latest movie Baywatch, Zac Efron has already secured his next big screen role. Efron is slated to star as the infamous Ted Bundy, the notorious serial killer who is known for his killing spree during the 1970s.

With a title of Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, the film will be directed by Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Joe Berlinger, who also made the Paradise Lost documentaries. Michael Werwie wrote the script, which is from the perspective of Elizabeth Kloepfer, Bundy’s ex-girlfriend who initially denied the accusations against her boyfriend, but was eventually the one to turn him in to the authorities. The script earned Werwie the Nicholl Fellowship first prize and made it onto the Black List – a list of the ‘most-liked’ motion picture screenplays that have yet to be produced.

Efron first came onto the acting scene when he had a leading role in High School Musical, over a decade ago. Since then, the 29-year-old actor has been cast in more light-hearted comedies, such as 17 Again and Neighbours. While he has had some more serious roles in films like Charlie St. Cloud and The Paperboy, his upcoming role as Ted Bundy is expected to transform his reputation as an actor.

The film is slated to start production on October 9 of this year.