Matt Cornett is ready for his close-up. After years of playing E.J. Caswell on Disney+’s beloved High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, the actor is stepping into uncharted territory with Prime Video’s new romantic drama Every Year After—and he’s not looking back.
The series, adapted from Carley Fortune’s bestselling novel Every Summer After, casts Cornett as Sam Florek, a emotionally layered character grappling with grief and family turmoil as he reconnects with his childhood sweetheart, Percy Fraser (played by Sadie Soverall), in the intimate setting of Barry’s Bay. It’s a far cry from his high school musical roots, and Cornett says the transformation has been both creatively fulfilling and deeply personal.
“Reading Carley’s novel hit me in a way I didn’t expect,” Cornett explained, recalling the emotional weight of Fortune’s work and how it convinced him this story had legs.
What really brought Sam and Percy’s rekindled romance to life, however, was the chemistry between Cornett and Soverall. The two spent considerable time bonding before cameras rolled, a decision that paid off in spades. “There’s an authenticity you can’t fake,” Cornett noted, crediting his co-star’s performance and their genuine friendship for grounding the show’s emotional core.
Though he’s moved on from High School Musical, Cornett hasn’t lost touch with his former castmates. He still texts with Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett, a testament to the tight-knit family that formed on the Disney+ series.
Since its summer debut, Every Year After has become the talk of the streaming world, drawing both Fortune’s loyal fanbase and curious newcomers. With audiences already debating the season finale and whispering about potential renewals, Cornett’s leading turn as Sam has cemented his status as a force in the next generation of young adult romance. This could very well be the role that defines his career—the one that proves he’s more than just a Disney star.
About the author
Daya Nanoskar is an Entertainment Writer at Awesome TV and a contributor to AWSM Times. Daya covers film news, streaming releases, celebrity updates and industry news across Hollywood and Bollywood, and has written more than 2,300 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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