Image: Instagram/@iamjnapoles
Liza Soberano’s exit from “Darna” has seen celebrities and fans alike to air their sentiments on who could take over the role of the Filipina superhero.
For actor Jerald Napoles, he believes that Kapuso actresses Jennylyn Mercado and Sanya Lopez are deserving of the role.
“I kinda agree that @sanya_lopez is one of the top (if not the top) contenders to be the next ‘Darna,’” Napoles said via Twitter on April 5.
I kinda agree that @sanya_lopez is one of the top (if not the top) contenders to be the next "Darna".
— . (@IamJNapoles) April 5, 2019
He also joked that he could play Ding, Darna’s younger brother.
“Basta ako pwedeng maging si ‘Ding.’ Kayang kaya ko mag hawak nang bato… Pero di po ako user (I can play Ding. I can definitely hold the stone, but I don’t use drugs),” he said in jest.
Apart from Lopez, Napoles also vouched for actress Jennylyn Mercado for the “Darna” role.
“May @MercadoJen pa pala! Isa pang Reyna na karapat-dapat maging ‘Darna’! Ang exciting!” he said. “Sana ma-consider ang mga Kapuso stars!”
(And there’s also Jennylyn Mercado! Another queen deserving of the “Darna” role! It’s exciting! I hope they consider Kapuso stars!)
May @MercadoJen pa pala!! Isa pang Reyna na karapat-dapat maging "Darna"! Ang exciting! Sana maconsider ang mga Kapuso stars!
— . (@IamJNapoles) April 5, 2019
And echoing Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga’s sentiments, Napoles hopes the next Darna will have brown skin. He added that it would be perfect if an audition was held for the role of Darna.
Salonga took to social media on April 5 and shared that she would love to see a morena Darna, portrayed by a “relatively unknown” actress.
“Perfect yung kayumangging Darna (A brown-skinned Darna would be perfect!)!!” said Napoles. “PINAY POWER! The world is now considering all races, colors for all roles! Tara Pinas! #Darna.”
Perfect yung kayumangging Darna!! PINAY POWER! the world is now considering all races, colors, ethnicity for all roles! Tara Pinas! #Darna
— . (@IamJNapoles) April 5, 2019
“At higit sa lahat… Sana magpa-audition ng susunod na Darna… Di ba ang exciting nun, it symbolises hope for all Pinays in the world. Walang network network, sikat man o hindi. #BagongDarna should represent all Pilipina!!”
(And most of all… I hope they hold an audition for the next Darna. That would be exciting, it symbolizes hope for all Pinays in the world. No network, famous or not. The new Darna should represent all Filipinas!!)
At higit sa lahat… Sana magpa audition ng susunod na Darna.. Di ba ang exciting nun, It symbolises hope for all Pinays in the world. Walang network network, sikat man o hindi. #BagongDarna should represent all Pilipina!!
— . (@IamJNapoles) April 5, 2019
The “Darna” reboot was first announced in 2014 by Star Cinema. Liza Soberano announced her withdrawal from the “Darna” film last April 4, citing medical reasons. Soberano, as per a statement by ABS-CBN and Star Cinema, suffered a finger bone fracture at the set of “Bagani” last year and that she is still undergoing treatment. /ra
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