"High School Musical" star Ashley Tisdale is starting something new, setting up a first-look deal with "American Idol" producers FremantleMedia North America.
Tisdale is also in talks with United Artists to star in a remake of the 1989 movie "Teen Witch."
Under the one-year pact with FremantleMedia, which is close to being signed, the production company will look to develop projects revolving around the thesp.
It's unclear what kind of TV project may be in the works for Tisdale, but the young thesp already has a wide variety of credits to her name.
Tisdale is best known for her role as Sharpay Evans in "High School Musical" and its sequel, and she's set to reprise the role in the theatrical "High School Musical 3." To tween auds, she's also familiar as Maddie in Disney Channel's half-hour sitcom "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody."
Thesp has also appeared in "Still Standing," "Grounded for Life," "The Hughleys" and "Beverly Hills, 90210." As a singer, Tisdale released the CD "Headstrong" in 2007; she's also appeared in features including "Donnie Darko."
As for "Teen Witch," Tisdale would play Louise Miller, the unpopular girl who discovers that she's a descendant of witches -- and possesses powers. Robyn Lively starred in the original film. A script has not yet been written for the remake.
Besides "Idol," FremantleMedia North America is behind shows including "America's Got Talent" and "The Price Is Right."
(Dave McNary contributed to this report.)
Contact Michael Schneider at
mike.schneider@variety.com