(From left) Kathryn Bernardo, Dolly de Leon, Daniel Padilla, Olivia Lamasan. Images: Instagram/@bernardokath, Instagram/@dollyedeleon, Instagram/@supremo_dp, Twitter/@StarCinema
Kathryn Bernardo is about to make her return to the big screen with three films in the works, including a reunion project with her boyfriend singer-actor Daniel Padilla, and Golden Globe nominee Dolly de Leon.
Bernardo’s film projects were announced during the “New Movie Alert” virtual media conference on Monday, March 27, which coincidentally took place a day after her 27th birthday.
The actress confirmed that she will be working with de Leon in the dark comedy film “A Very Good Girl,” which will be directed by Petersen Vargas.
“It’s such an honor because I would be working with — and she agreed to work with me — with the one and only Ms. Dolly de Leon, ohmigod,” a visibly elated Bernardo began. “For sure, I would learn a lot from her, and I can’t wait to meet her again. So it was such an honor that she found time (to make this movie).”
KATHRYN x DOLLY ON THE SAME SCREEN. 🎬
LOOK: Kathryn Bernardo announced that she is set to star in the upcoming film “A Very Good Girl” with Golden Globe nominee Dolly de Leon, which will be released in 2023. | 📸: Screengrab from ABS-CBN Star Cinema/YouTube via @HMallorcaINQ pic.twitter.com/IUtcpDUu9p
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) March 27, 2023
The film, which is said to be a dark comedy genre with an “eat the rich” concept, will include Marionne Dominique Mancol as the screenwriter, Carmi Raymundo as the creative manager, and Daniel Saniana as the creative supervisor.
Raymundo also revealed that de Leon and Bernardo worked together when the latter was still young, which was shared to the former by the “Triangle of Sadness” star during a pitch meeting.
“We are very honored and very, very grateful that she gave us time to listen to the concept and story. When I was pitching to her, tinanong niya kung sino makakasama sa pelikula. When we said Kathryn Bernardo, immediately, nag-light up ‘yung mukha si Ms. Dolly,” she said. (We are very honored and very, very grateful that she gave us time to listen to the concept and story. When I was pitching to her, she asked whom she would be working with Kathryn Bernardo, Ms. Dolly’s face lit up immediately.)
“Kasi sabi niya, ‘I don’t know if she remembers but we worked together when she was very little. Noon pa lang, nakitaan ko na she’s very professional, she’s very humble.’ Tapos natatandaan daw niya na naka-kwentuhan daw niya si Tita Min (Kathryn’s mother),” she further added.
(She said, “I don’t know if she remembers but we’ve worked together when she was very little. Even before, I saw that she’s very professional and very humble.” She also remembered that she even spoke with Kathryn’s mother, Tita Min, before.)
“A Very Good Girl” will kick off filming “very, very soon,” while it is slated for a 2023 release. Details about the cast, plot, and premiere date are yet to be disclosed.
Another Lamasan film
Bernardo will also be reuniting with veteran filmmaker Olivia Lamasan in the upcoming Black Sheep Productions film “Elena 1944,” which tells the story of comfort women during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines.
The storyline of the historical action-drama was brought to life by Patrick Valencia and Enrico Santos, while Vanessa Valdez will serve as the creative manager.
This marks the actress’ reunion project with Lamasan after “Barcelona: A Love Untold” in 2016.
LOOK: Kathryn Bernardo will also reunite with filmmaker Olivia Lamasan for the period action-drama film “Elena 1944,” which will be produced by Black Sheep.
(Screengrab from ABS-CBN Star Cinema/YouTube) @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/rj9Rs9BWdQ
— Hannah Mallorca (@HMallorcaINQ) March 27, 2023
“This was pitched to me pre-pandemic. In 2019, to be exact. Then fast forward, I turned 27. Buo na ‘yung loob kong gawin siya. It is something na nagre-represent ng pagkababae ko and I love to do a project like that, representing women empowerment,” the actress said.
(This was pitched to me pre-pandemic. In 2019, to be exact. Then fast forward, I turned 27. I’m fully ready to do it. It is something that represents my femininity, and I love to do a project like that, which represents women empowerment.)
Additional details about the production timeline, premiere date, and castmates were not revealed, as of this writing.
During the event, Bernardo also confirmed that a reunion film with Padilla would be filmed after “A Very Good Girl,” but she remained tight-lipped about the details. She also hinted that her partner would be working on solo projects in the future as well.
The couple made headlines earlier this month, after they were included among the top celebrity taxpayers by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for 2022. EDV