Toni Gonzaga’s ‘My Sassy Girl’ finished production last December, awaits reopening of cinemas

Pepe Herrera (left) and Toni Gonzaga in the Philippine remake of “My Sassy Girl.” Image: Instagram/@tincanfilmsph

The Philippine adaptation of the hit South Korean rom-com “My Sassy Girl” has already finished production last December, although no release date has been set for now.

The team behind the adaptation will be waiting for the reopening of cinemas before they release the film. Toni Gonzaga, who will take on the titular role, disclosed this in an interview over at G3 San Diego’s YouTube channel last Monday, April 19.

“I think they will wait [for a theatrical release],” Gonzaga said after being asked how distributor Viva Films will be releasing the movie.

As part of the franchise deal, Gonzaga revealed that they will also get to meet the original South Korean cast of the 2001 film.

“I don’t know if I’m allowed to say this, but I’ll say it na lang, part din ng deal doon sa franchise – and I’m praying it will happen – kasama siya doon sa deal eh, we will go to Korea and meet the original cast,” the actress explained. “So, sana matuloy ‘yun.”

(I don’t know if I’m allowed to say this, but I’ll say it anyway, part of the franchise deal – and I’m praying it will happen – is that we get to go to Korea to meet the original cast. So, I hope it pushes through.)

In the interview, Gonzaga also recalled how being offered the said role was a most welcome surprise, noting that it has always been her dream to be cast in an adaptation of a South Korean drama.

Gonzaga, who watched the original film in 2006, initially thought that starring in such a film “won’t probably happen” to her. While she shared that she had been offered roles twice before, she ultimately did not end up getting cast.

“Dinaan ako sa OPM, ‘Oh promise me,'” Gonzaga joked. “Hanggang sa dumating ka na sa point na ‘ah, baka I’m not meant for ‘yung mga Korean [drama].'”

(They pulled an OPM on me, “Oh promise me.” Then I just got to the point that I thought, “maybe I’m just not meant to star in Korean dramas.”)

“So ayun, kinalimutan ko na. I got married tapos ito nga, I had Seve,” Gonzaga added. (So, I just forgot about it. I got married and now I have my son, Seve.)

Her dream came true last year, however, when Viva Films founder Vic Del Rosario called Gonzaga’s husband, producer-director Paul Soriano, to offer Gonzaga the “Sassy Girl” role, as they were securing the rights for the original film.

Gonzaga is set to star opposite leading man Pepe Herrera in the said remake. Gonzaga’s company, TinCan Productions, meanwhile handled the movie.

Prior to having a Philippine adaptation, the 2001 South Korean classic was first remade by Hollywood with Elisha Cuthbert and Jesse Bradford in the lead roles, back in 2008.

In the original “My Sassy Girl,” directed by Kwak Jae-yong, Jun Ji-hyun plays the unnamed title role alongside Cha Tae-yun’s Gyeon-woo. JB

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