Wishing and patiently waiting

Liza Soberano

Sometime back, we wished aloud that 2018 would see the elevation of Maricar Reyes to lead status on a new TV drama series.

Well, that still isn’t happening, but Maricar is getting a good role in the coming teleserye, “Bagani,” topbilling Liza Soberano, Enrique Gil and Matteo Guidicelli. Uh, as long as it’s a really good role—promise?

We’re willing to wait some more, because Maricar has proven in past shows and films that she’s exceptionally gifted for the long term—and we believe that exceptional talent will ultimately win out.

We’re also being patient about our other fervent wish for 2018, a special big-screen drama topbilling our best young-adult actors, Jericho Rosales and Bea Alonzo.

No definite word on that yet, but we hope that, if we keep hinting and wishing, enough people will see the light and join our campaign, so that the powers-that-be will finally—do the right thing!

As for “Bagani,” the new teleserye starring Liza, Enrique and Matteo, it’s riding high on the popularity of the LizQuen love team—and, more significantly, the “fantasy-cultural roots” show is a warm-up and buildup to Liza’s biggest career move to date—her transformation into an action-fantasy-drama superstar, via the latest cinematic restaging of “Darna.”

At first blush, Liza could come across as too lovely and “girlie” to fit the feisty female superhero character, who has “traditionally” been portrayed by sporty and/or sexy stars.

The long list of Darnas includes Rosa del Rosario, Liza Moreno, Eva Montes, Gina Pareño, Lorna Tolentino, Rio Locsin, Nanette Medved, Anjanette Abayari, Angel Locsin, Marian Rivera—get the picture?

On the other hand, Darna has also been played by the unlikely likes of Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Regine Velasquez and even Dolphy (!), so there’s obviously room for innovative casting—as in Liza’s case.

Depending on the “finished product” of the young actress’ actual performance, the “surprise” factor in casting her could work in her favor.

It will open the long-running film franchise to a younger viewer demographic that would empathize with the teen fave.

In addition, it will open the storytelling up to a more youthful and thus more dynamic vibe and other possibilities.

Finally, remember that Darna has a youthful alter ego, Narda, whom Liza would fit to a “T.”

The big challenge would then be in how to beef up her prowess and believability as a superhero capable of many “extreme” feats of strength and derring-do.

To measure up to it, director Erik Matti can be relied on to make full, prodigious use of the many technical and special effects now available to today’s action and fantasy filmmakers.

The new “Darna” film will just have to make sure that its technical tricks and effects don’t upstage its human actors.

In the final analysis, fantasy visuals are great, but establishing a strong personal, emotional and human bond between actors and viewers is key—and the best guarantee of a blockbuster hit!