Annette Gozon-Valdes hopes GMA-Star Cinema movie collab will push through in 2024

(From left) Annette Gozon-Valdes, Star Cinema’s logo. Image: Instagram/@annettegozonvaldes, Facebook/ABS-CBN Film Productions

GMA senior vice president Annette Gozon-Valdes is hopeful that the Kapuso network’s movie project with Star Cinema, which has long been sitting in the back burner, will finally push through by 2024.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of “Unbreak My Heart’s” finale press conference, Gozon-Valdes revealed that a contract for a movie collaboration with Star Cinema had been signed, but it was put on a hold due to the pandemic. If plans pushes through, it will be another history in the making between the two erstwhile network rivals.

“Sana next year. Sana may movies, makagawa na. We’ll start na makipag-usap. We’ll see (We’re hoping we can make movies by next year. We’ll start talking about it. We’ll see),” she said.

“May contract na kami. Matagal na, with Star Cinema. Pero since pandemic, wala pang masyadong nangyari (We have a contract that was signed a long time ago. But it didn’t push through due to the pandemic),” she added.

Gozon-Valdes also hinted that it will be the “first full production” of GMA and Star Cinema, with ABS-CBN’s executives showing interest in the movie.

“Pero noong ABS-CBN Ball, nakausap ko ulit sila Kris Gazmin pati sila Carlo Katigbak, Cory Vidanes, sabi ko, ‘Gawa na tayong movie.’ Kasi gusto na rin nila eh. Siguro matutuloy na next year… first full production siya ng GMA and Star Cinema,” she said.

(But I discussed plans with Kris Gazmin, Carlo Katigbak, and Cory Vidanes during the ABS-CBN Ball. I said, “Let’s make a movie” and they want it to happen too. Maybe it will happen by next year. It will be the first full production of GMA and Star Cinema.)

While the cast has yet to be ironed out, the GMA executive said the network is eyeing Barbie Forteza and a Kapamilya actor as the potential leads.

“Wala [pang cast] eh, pero ang naiisip namin ay si Barbie [Forteza] combined with one of their talent (No cast yet. But we’re eyeing Barbie Forteza combined with one of ABS-CBN’s talents),” she said.

The year 2023 has been a collaborative year between GMA and ABS-CBN as they joined forces in the teleserye “Unbreak My Heart” starring Jodi Sta. Maria, Joshua Garcia, Gabbi Garcia, and Richard Yap. The drama is down to its final five weeks on air.

The two media giants also signed a collaboration in order to have Kapamilya noontime show “It’s Showtime” be aired on GMA’s GTV. The first episode under the Kapuso network’s roof premiered last July. EDV