Zac Efron looked casual but comfortable as he stepped out in New York on Monday.
The 36-year-old actor, who was busy promoting his latest role in The Iron Claw, showcased the outline of his muscular figure in a navy V-neck sweater with a white crew-neck T-shirt underneath.
The Gold star, who shocked fans with his apparent facial transformation in a recent interview, wore jeans and tan ankle boots as he left the Bowery Hotel.
His face was mostly clean-shaven with a hint of stubble, having forgone the mustache he grew for his role as wrestling pro Kevin Von Erich.
The MTV Movie Award winner’s dark hair is cut short and styled in loose spikes on his head.
Muscular Shape: Zac Efron showed off his muscular shape in a navy blue V-neck sweater with a white crew-neck t-shirt underneath. The Gold star wore jeans and tan ankle boots as he left the Bowery Hotel in New York on Monday
He completed the look with dark framed sunglasses.
This comes days after the star’s fans were surprised by his unrecognizable face in a new interview he spoke for Weekly entertainment.
In the video interview, Zach was seen with his fuller chin and facial change – which he explained in 2022 – and revealed that it was the result of his broken jaw after smashing his chin on a granite fountain – following rumors about it the year before had triggered cosmetic surgery.
“What happened to his face?” one fan wrote, while annoyingly calling his face “huge.”
Others compared him to characters like Thanos in Avengers and even went as far as naming Prince Farquaad from Shrek.
Other fans all reminded of his previous broken jaw.
In 2022, Zac appeared on the cover of Men’s Health Magazine and explained what had happened to his face – after plastic surgery rumors had been circulating since the previous year.
In his interview, Zac revealed that he had a bad accident at home which resulted in a massive change in his face.
“The Iron Claw” isn’t scheduled to hit theaters until December 22nd, but the film is already generating a lot of buzz following its world premiere in Dallas last week.
Zac plays one of four sons of professional wrestler Fritz Von Erich, alongside Harrison Dickson, Jeremy Allen White and Stanley Simons.
With their father’s guidance and coaching, the brothers founded a wrestling dynasty, only for it to be torn apart by tragedy.
The actor managed to bond with the man he portrayed and told Variety that the project received his seal of approval.
Zac spoke to the real Kevin Von Erich the night before the film’s premiere in Dallas.
“I was very curious what he thought of the film,” he told the outlet.
“We went out on the terrace, sat head to head and talked about life for an hour and a half. And he told me he liked the film.’
Close Shave: The actor’s face was mostly clean-shaven, with a hint of stubble, having ditched the mustache he grew for his role as wrestling pro Kevin Von Erich in “The Iron Claw.” The MTV Movie Award winner’s dark hair is cut short and styled in loose spikes on his head
Buzz: Zac’s film The Iron Claw isn’t due in theaters until December 22nd, but it’s already generating a lot of awards buzz. Zac plays one of four sons of professional wrestler Fritz Von Erich, alongside Harrison Dickson, Jeremy Allen White and Stanley Simons
Dance: During a question-and-answer session after a screening in New York on Monday, it was revealed that the cast sang tunes from “High School Musical” while filming a party scene. Zac and co-star Jeremy Allen White said their dance experience helped with the wrestling choreography
Current: Zac Efron fans were surprised by his unrecognizable face in a new interview for Entertainment Weekly
Other fans compared him to a character from movies, while others reminded each other of his broken jaw caused by an accident at home
Causing a stir: Fans noticed that Efron’s jaw looked very different in an Earth Day 2021 video (pictured right) than it did during his High School Musical days (pictured left in 2006)
“I can’t really put into words how this feels,” he claimed.
“For me it’s by far the most important review in many ways. “It meant the world and everything just came full circle.”
During a question-and-answer session following an industry screening of the film later that evening in New York, it was revealed that members of the cast sang songs from “High School Musical” while a party scene was being filmed.
Zac told the audience that his dance experience in the Disney musical franchise helped with the wrestling choreography, adding that he is “a physical and visual learner.”
Co-star Jeremy Allen White, who also has a dance background, agreed, explaining that wrestling is “a mix of gymnastics with a dance component and also a martial art.” Dancing gives you a feel for your body in space, which is important in professional wrestling so you don’t hurt yourself or others.”
Although no project has been approved yet, the late Matthew Perry, who died on October 28 at the age of 54, wrote in his memoirs that if there was to be a film about his life, he wanted Zac to star in it.
Approval: The actor received a “thumbs up” from the real Kevin Von Erich, whom he portrayed in “The Iron Claw,” and told Variety: “This is by far the most important review for me in many ways” (pictured on November 8th in Dallas)
The two worked together while filming the 2009 film 17 Again.
Zac played the younger version of Matthew’s Mike O’Donnell in the comedy.
“That would be extraordinary,” he told Extra at the premiere of “The Iron Claw.” ‘Lets see what happens.’
He added: “I looked up to him and learned comedic timing from that guy.” “I mean, when we were filming 17 Again, it was so surreal for me to look over and see him there because I was in his whole life I learned so much from him.”