Alden Richards and Julia Montes during a media announcement of their new film. Image: Facebook/Cornerstone Entertainment Inc.
Julia Montes and Alden Richards will join forces in the upcoming film “Five Break-ups and a Romance,” which revolves around a couple’s “complicated relationship.”
Montes and Richards’ film was confirmed at a media conference on Tuesday, April 18, which comes days after the actress shared a cryptic teaser on her personal Instagram account.
The film, which centers on the balance between “career and love,” is written and directed by Irene Villamor. It will be produced by GMA Pictures, Cornerstone Studios and Richards’ multimedia company Myriad Corporation.
The actors expressed their excitement over working together in “Five Break-ups and a Romance,” with Richards revealing that his leading lady is the type of person who has “no pretensions.”
“It’s been a while since my last film in 2019. Noong nilatag pa lang sa akin ‘to, na-excite ako sa idea of being paired with Julia [Montes] because I know how brilliant of an actress she is,” he began. “Kumbaga, si [Julia Montes] ang isa sa mga naka-partner ko na walang pretensions, nararamdaman ko ang sincerity. Kaya hindi rin ako natakot to give my all in this film kasi importanteng ipakita ‘yung individuality niya.”
(It’s been a while since my last film in 2019. When this was proposed to me, I was excited about the idea of being paired with Julia Montes because I know how brilliant of an actress she is. Julia was previously one of my leading ladies who had no pretensions, and you can feel her sincerity. This is why I’m not scared to give my all in this film because it’s very important to show her individuality.)
Meanwhile, Montes said that it was an “honor” to work with her “Hello, Love, Goodbye” co-star even if they had only been filming for two days.
“Noong nalaman ko po siyempre, nagulat talaga ako. I’m honored and happy to work with him. Kahit hindi pa kami masyadong matagal nagsho-shoot, na-realize kung bakit Alden Richards is Alden Richards,” she added.
(I was surprised when I found out that I would be paired with Alden Richards. I’m honored and happy to work with him. Even if we haven’t shot the majority of the scenes, I realized why Alden Richards is Alden Richards.)
During the media conference, Villamor shared that the film is a “challenge” to tell the story of love “in a different way.”
“The film is more of a dissection of anong nangyayari in a couple. Hindi lang dalawang tao ang nasa relasyon, kumbaga hindi natin nakikita ‘yung what happens in a relationship. Gaano ba siya ka-complicated,” she said.
(The film is more of a dissection of what happens between a couple. The relationship doesn’t revolve around two people only, or we don’t see what really happens inside of it. How complicated is a relationship?)
Montes will star as Justine who is a “goal-driven, career woman,” while Richards will take on the role of the “more relaxed” Lance Sandoval.
The film’s premiere date is yet to be announced as of this writing.
Montes is best known for her starring roles in the teleseryes “Mara Clara,” “Doble Kara” and “Asintado,” among others. On the other hand, among Richards’ most notable projects was playing the role of Ethan in the box-office hit film “Hello, Love, Goodbye.” /ra