Iza Calzado cast as ‘first Darna’ in upcoming TV series

Image: Instagram/@missizacalzado

Iza Calzado is set to portray the Filipino superhero Darna alongside actress Jane de Leon in the upcoming “Mars Ravelo’s Darna: The TV Series.”

Calzado will be playing as the “first Darna” who will pass on her superpowers to her daughter Narda (De Leon), ABS-CBN announced in an official release today, Aug. 12.

“Finally, I can claim to be part of the Pinoy superhero history! I almost had the chance in the past, but God had other plans,” Calzado was quoted as saying. “I was not meant to be that Darna but He (God) surely prepared me to play this Darna.”

The actress added that she had been waiting a long time for her to be announced as part of the cast for the series, noting that she remained a constant member of the cast through the various changes.

“There have been changes in the cast and directors and as Direk Lauren (Dyogi) said, I am the constant,” she told fans.

The Darna role has been a long time coming for Calzado, who revealed in a 2014 interview with Boy Abunda that she was supposed to play the superhero in GMA Network’s series adaptation in 2005. The part was eventually portrayed by actress Angel Locsin.

Production for the new adaptation of “Darna” has been delayed, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Locsin was first tapped to reprise her role for a film back in 2014, but she had to back out due to a back injury and health reasons in 2015.

Liza Soberano was then cast by ABS-CBN, but the actress exited the project in 2019 after suffering from a finger injury.

Meanwhile, director Erik Matti, was supposed to direct the “Darna” film, but he decided to part ways with Star Cinema due to creative differences. Jerrold Tarog took his place, but he also left the project last January, this time due to scheduling conflicts.

The project has since been turned from a movie into a television series. “Mars Ravelo’s Darna: The TV Series” will start filming in September, after De Leon exits the long-running series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.”  /ra

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