Years of preparation, actor selection, and ambitious production make the two upcoming TV series the most anticipated projects of their respective networks.
2022 is poised to become the battleground for ambitious productions—projects that have long kept fans anticipating for very long.
ABS-CBN and GMA Network are upping the antes in creating content the viewers may love to consume. The two rival networks continue to aspire to dominate the local television scene.
The two most-anticipated shows are Mars Ravelo’s Darna: The TV Series and GMA-7’s Voltes V: Legacy.
Both shows have constantly landed on headlines and become favorite topics during conversations that revolve around ‘who’s playing who’ and the production’s overall development.
ABS-CBN’s Darna has been in the works since 2013 and has since sustained enormous changes. Originally planned to fly on the silver screen, the Kapamilya’s Darna was first offered to prolific directors Erik Matti and Jerrold Tarog.
Matti officially resigned from the project in late 2018 due to creative differences, while Tarog departed after ABS-CBN announced the cancellation of the movie project in 2020.
Since Matti, the role has been offered to three actresses, with Jane de Leon, ultimately the one got chosen to fly as the fourth Darna on television.
Multi-awarded actress, Angel Locsin, was first offered to reprise the role in 2013, but she backed out due to her developing back injury. Liza Soberano, similarly left the show in 2019, due to finger injury.
Darna continued to face hurdles even after the selection of De Leon as the lead character. The pandemic stalled many ongoing shows, and production of upcoming programs also halted.
The biggest blow came in July, 2020, when ABS-CBN’s application for a new broadcast franchise got denied by the Philippines Congress, thereby eliminating the Network from the free television scene. The future of Darna as a big screen collapsed with the announcement of a planned TV series and the departure of Jerrold Tarog in January 2021.
Visionary director Chito Roño came aboard in October this year, ensuring the Pinay superhero’s return to the small screen.
ABS-CBN is committed to making Darna its most ambitious production in 2022.
Principal photography began in November at the ABS-CBN Sound Stages in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, which means the TV adaptation is poised to utilize some of the most modern and stat-of-the-art facilities in local entertainment production.
Roño, who directed some of the Network’s top-calibre fantasy series like Spirits (2004), Imortal (2010)), and Lastikman (2007)–is expected to employ his artistic directorial styles that made his past helmed-series remarkable.
GMA Network’s adaptation of the ‘70s anime classic, Voltes V, had less struggles, although its realization also came under extreme pressure and scrutiny.
The series has been steadily gaining attention from all over the world, with faithful fans commending the early teasers released by GMA network in early 2020. The Network earned the approval of the show’s original creator, Toei Company, which is also supervising the show’s creative direction.
Riot Post Productions Inc., one of the local entertainment scenes’ pioneers in visual effects and post-production, is tapped by the Network to make Voltes V Legacy stand out in special effects and post-production design.
Voltes V Legacy has gone through painstaking selection process in casting its lead stars. The highly coveted roles eventually went to Miguel Tanfelix as Steve Armstrong, Radson Flores as Mark Gordon, Mark Lozano as Robert ‘Big Bert’ Armstrong, Raphael Landicho as ‘Little John’ Armstrong, and Ysabel Ortega as Jamie Robinson. Playing these roles are set to catapult these stars to unprecedented level of fame.
Both the production of Mars Ravelo’s Darna: The TV Series and Voltes V: Legacy have already gone full throttle and are both expected to dominate local television in 2022.
ABS-CBN’s limited presence on free television may likely keep the new series from achieving pre-shutdown viewership on free TV, but there is a great chance it will replicate the success of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano and previous post-shutdown shows, like Ang Sa’Yo Ay Sa Akin, online.
GMA Network’s domination in the local television landscape is anticipated to continue in 2022, with Voltes V Legacy most likely becoming among the Network’s top rated TV shows.
As of this writing, both shows are yet to announce their television debut. Excited for these shows? Make sure to drop your comments below.
