'HSMTMTS' Season 4: Everything to Know About the Final Season

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series season 4 is coming soon.

Before season 3 premiered in July 2022, Disney+ gave the green light for season 4.

"This series continues to deliver best in class drama, humor, and heart," Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television said of the show's renewal. "Tim Federle's vision and interpretation of this legacy IP keeps evolving season over season and we can't wait to see what's in store for the Wildcats next."

"This series has been an epic adventure from the start and I'm beyond grateful that we get to keep making music, telling these stories and showcasing these exceptional stars," creator Tim Federle added.

In late 2022, PEOPLE got the scoop on season 4 during an exclusive set visit and in June 2023, PEOPLE shared the exclusive First Look at the new season, including glimpses of the East High students' production of High School Musical 3, a special moment between Ricky (Joshua Bassett) and Gina (Sofia Wylie) and Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman's onscreen reunion.

Read ahead for everything we know about HSMTMTS season 4.

Which cast members are returning for HSMTMTS season 4?

Despite shaking things up in season 3 by making a few main cast members recurring (rather than series regulars), it seems like most of the original cast will be back for season 4.

Federle confirmed to PEOPLE in September 2022 that almost everyone in the season 3 finale "is going to make their way back into the show" next season, including Matt Cornett, Saylor Bell and Adrian Lyles. "If you love somebody in season 3, they'll probably be back, but we're always sort of juggling the number of people whose stories we're telling."

In a press release for season 4, Disney+ revealed that series regulars would be Joshua Bassett (Ricky), Sofia Wylie (Gina), Dara Reneé (Kourtney), Julia Lester (Ashlyn), Frankie Rodriguez (Carlos), Kate Reinders (Miss Jenn) and Liamani Segura (Emmy). Kylie Cantrall, Matthew Sato, Caitlin Reilly and Vasthy Mompoint are also joining as recurring cast members.

Which cast members are not returning for HSMTMTS season 4?

After appearing as a guest star in season 3, Olivia Rodrigo will not reprise her role as Nini in the upcoming season.

"What I wanted to say with Nini's story is that everyone can't have a perfect, happy ending every season, but there's always a future where you're driving off into something that could be even better or at least teach you something about yourself," Federle told PEOPLE of Rodrigo's exit in the season 3 finale.

"The song 'Born to Be Brave' is sentimental to me. I think it's the theme of the entire series. We've always strived to tell stories that are representative and modern and queer and true and I just felt like there was no more beautiful way of doing that than reminding Nini that when she gets in the car, those voices are always gonna be with her."

What will the musical be for HSMTMTS season 4?

The cast confirmed at D23 that the upcoming season will show the students putting on a musical of High School Musical 3: Senior Year, the third film in the HSM franchise in which the characters put on a musical about their own lives.

Speaking with PEOPLE during an exclusive set visit, Federle noted that they choose High School Musical 3 as the musical as it parallels many of the characters' storylines this season.

“We chose High School Musical 3 because they're literally graduating,” Federle said of the significance behind the students’ musical for this year. “Troy and Gabriela have these stories about being potentially pulled apart by circumstance and by growing up and that's exactly what Ricky and Gina are going through."

“Kourtney is going through these massive decisions about wanting it all as a college student,” Federle teased. “Ashlyn goes on a journey where she discovers her own queerdom in the series. Those are all things we're able to address in a way that I think celebrates the original franchise but puts a stamp on it in our own way."

What other music will be featured in HSMTMTS season 4?

In addition to featuring hit songs from High School Musical 3: Senior Year, the film will also include new original songs, including a few written for the fictional High School Musical 4 movie. On July 25, Disney+ gave a glimpse of one of the songs performed by the OG HSM cast, titled "High School Musical Reunion."

Per an official release from Disney+, the season 4 soundtrack will be released on Aug. 10, a day after the new season debuts on the streamer. The press release adds that the soundtrack will include 28 songs in total, showcasing "a broad range of music, featuring new original songs and music from High School Musical 3 and across the High School Musical franchise."

What will HSMTMTS season 4 be about?

During D23, it was revealed that the upcoming fourth season will follow the characters as they return to East High for their senior year, only to find out that the school is being used to film the long-awaited High School Musical 4: The Reunion movie, and they'll all be playing featured extras.

Federle told PEOPLE in September 2022 that the upcoming season is a "real return to the original" season. "[It's] the real return to why the show got greenlit in the first place, which is real theater kids singing at this iconic location, aka East High."

“It is so meta,” Federle said of season 4 during PEOPLE's set visit. “It's like Inception with jazz hands at this point. I think there are Easter eggs in every episode.” 

Will any original High School Musical stars appear on HSMTMTS season 4?

Seeing that the upcoming season revolves around the fictional filming of High School Musical 4, many fans are curious to know if the show will feature any of the original Wildcats. While a handful of OG HSM stars have already appeared on the series, including Lucas Grabeel, Kaycee Stroh and Corbin Bleu, Federle confirmed to PEOPLE in September 2022 that an invitation has been extended to all of the original HSM stars to cameo in season 4.

In a press release, Disney+ confirmed that High School Musical stars Bleu, Stroh, Grabeel, Monique Coleman, Bart Johnson, and Alyson Reed are set to appear in the new season.

Speaking with PEOPLE in February 2023, Bleu revealed that he and the rest of his costars got super emotional returning to East High. "I did not expect the reaction that I had when walking back into East High," he said. "Even when I first saw it, just driving up, I took my breath away and I was like, 'Whoa. This is doing something to me. Why?'"

"It wasn't until showing up there that all of these emotions came up," he continued. "When I walked into the gym, that was actually when I started crying. I had so many life-changing special experiences in that room where we shot 'Get'cha Head in the Game,' where we shot 'We're All in This Together,' where we had so many emotional, important scenes, crazy moments. It wasn't until going back and just seeing it again going, 'I can't believe this.' It really was gratitude."

When did HSMTMTS season 4 film?

On Sept. 23, 2022, Disney+ confirmed that season 4 was officially in production. On Dec. 20, Federle confirmed that filming for season 4 had wrapped as he shared a group photo with the cast.

Is there a trailer for HSMTMTS season 4?

On June 21, Disney+ unveiled the first teaser trailer for the new season, which shows the return of many OG Wildcats as well as the first glimpse of the East High students' production of High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

On July 12, the official trailer was released, which features the cast singing "Now or Never" from High School Musical 3: Senior Year. It also teases new drama for the students of East High as their production of the third High School Musical film gets completely derailed by the filming of High School Musical 4.

When will HSMTMTS season 4 be released?

All eight episodes of the fourth season will premiere on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, exclusively on Disney+.

Will HSMTMTS season 4 be the show's final season?

On June 21, Federle confirmed that the upcoming fourth season will be the show's last. “After four years at East High, it’s time to graduate. This will be our final, endgame season,” he wrote on Instagram.

“This show brought the most extraordinary cast - and crew, and collaborators - to my life. To the fans, who embraced our super-meta series: we 'don’t not love you.' We can’t wait to share this epic 4th act with you all.”

During PEOPLE's set visit, Federle also expressed what he hopes the show's lasting impression will be on TV. “In the streaming era, there's something real about the phrase ‘It's now or never,’” he explained. “[To] still be on the air after four seasons is a blessing alone.” 

“I hope what people take away [from the series] is that in a mean, mean world, it's really important to find your people who have your back,” he adds. “The world is mean enough, and there are certain pockets of the world that you can find your people and soar and not apologize for who you are.”