Image: Instagram/@reallysharoncuneta
Sharon Cuneta was heartbroken when she failed to star in a Hollywood movie produced by Steven Spielberg because of a “false positive” COVID-19 test result.
The Hollywood film will be headlined by comedian Jo Koy and will feature an all-Filipino cast. Cuneta was supposed to play Jo Koy’s aunt in the film, as she told her fans on her Instagram Live video on Friday, May 28.
“I was coming to Hollywood to do my first Hollywood film. Not for any platform, not for Netflix, but for cinematic release with premieres all over,” she said.
The Megastar was scheduled to fly out to Los Angeles, California and travel to Canada to shoot for the film. She recalled getting a COVID-19 test days before her flight out of the country.
“I was so happy. Naka-pack na kami (We were already packed) and I was going to announce to you the very next day,” she told her fans. Unfortunately, Cuneta’s assistant called her, saying that the COVID-19 test Cuneta took came back positive.
Since the film’s production team could not afford delays, she knew that she would have to miss filming for it. Cuneta was more hurt when she took seven other tests from different laboratories, which came back negative for COVID-19.
“After that supposed positive test, all the seven different labs tested me negative. Hindi ba naman heartbreaking yon? (Isn’t that heartbreaking?)” she asked.
Cuneta said she was “depressed” because of the missed opportunity, stating she could not forgive the laboratory that gave her false positive results.
“Nawalan ako ng malaking oportunidad na ’di na mababalik sa akin. Kahit gusto nila Jo Koy at director na nandoon pa rin ako, wala silang choice [kundi] ituloy ’yung movie,” she added. (I missed a big opportunity that can’t be given back to me. Even if Jo Koy and the director want me there [filming], they have no choice but to continue with the movie.)
The actress added that she felt the need to leave the Philippines and make herself “productive” in the United States. She landed in Los Angeles earlier month, stating she wanted to “collect herself” and have some time off.
Cuneta’s role was then given to American actress Tia Carrere, who starred in the 1990s cult classic “Wayne’s World” films and played the voice of Nani in “Lilo and Stitch.” Carrere is of Spanish, Filipino and Chinese ancestry. JB
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