(From left) Julia Barretto, Alden Richards, Bea Alonzo. Images: Instagram/@juliabarretto, Instagram/@aldenrichards02, Instagram/@beaalonzo
Bea Alonzo’s loss is Julia Barretto’s gain once again after the latter agreed to take the Kapuso actress’ place in the upcoming film “Special Memory,” which also topbills Alden Richards.
Alonzo had begged off from the project due to her “full schedule.”
Barretto’s decision to join the cast of “Special Memory” has been confirmed by Viva president and CEO Vincent del Rosario III last Thursday, June 2, per Inquirer Bandera.
“Dating Alden-Bea, tapos nag-issue na naman kami ng statement (VIVA) and GMA na magpapahinga ata muna si Bea. So, si Julia na,” del Rosario said. “Ito ‘yung remake ng isang hit Korean movie ‘A Moment To Remember’ local version.”
(The film used to star Alden Richards and Bea Alonzo, then Viva and GMA announced in a statement that Bea stepped back from the project to rest. So, Julia will take over. This will be a local remake of the film, “A Moment to Remember.”)
Del Rosario was further quoted as saying that Barretto is excited to start working with Richards, who has already co-starred with several other Kapamilya in some movies.
Barretto is also set to start working on another project with Aga Muhlach initially labeled “Forgetting.”
“Well excited siya, hindi lang dito pati ‘yung movie nila with Aga Muhlach ‘yung ‘Forgetting.’ Siyempre isa si Julia sa mga importanteng artista ng Viva so binibigyan siya ng magaganda and malalaking projects,” he said.
In May 2023, Alonzo’s management confirmed in a statement released to “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” that the actress had “respectfully beg[ged] off from the movie” due to her “full schedule.” Talks of the project started as early as December 2020, and contracts for the film were signed in March 2021.
The original movie stars South Korean actors Son Ye-jin and Jung Woo-sung, as it revolves around the hardships of a couple, where the former’s character Su-jin suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. EDV