From the page to the box office...
News just bursted today that Arnold Arre's Andong Agimat has been taken under the wing of UNITEL's head honcho, Tony Gloria as his pet project. As one of the leading production houses in the Philippines, UNITEL has been lately getting into other projects, such as film. Andong just may become the next big Pinoy movie comic conversion since Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah.
According to Gloria, he's willing to put in a lot of resources into making Andong a hit. Depending on how the project sells, Andong may be a movie, a TV series or both- 20 million pesos won't cut it; 50 million would have been preferable but the project just may have a budget of 30-35 million, which is no small sum. Aside from that , UNITEL's best technology, such as HD cameras used in Hollywood films like Superman Returns will be used. Gloria has even mentioned that he's eyeing Robin Padilla in the role of the titular bad boy hero.
Of course, I'm quite excited at this bit of news- Andong is one of my favorite titles from Arnold, and I can't wait to see the characters and action leap from page to screen. I'm still taking this with a grain of salt given the record of Filipino movies so far, but I'll allow myself to be optimistic.
Andong Agimat is an action-fantasy set in a modern-day Philippines where mystical creatures and beings with superhuman powers walk among normal men. When Maria Makiling, a goddess in the flesh, gets lost in the grimy alleys and hostile streets of an evil-infested Manila, there's only one man tough enough to lead the fight to rescue her... Andong Agimat. Copies of Arnold's graphic novel are still out there in Power Books, Fully Booked and other good book stores. Find it!
Man, I'm excited in comics again. Hah!
1 comment:
Aww thanks Dimaans -- we would've told you sooner but Mr. G and company wanted to keep the news confidential muna until they announced it. Yeah, we're crossing our fingers that it'll be a good adaptation. Dapat may say ka sa casting ni Mariang Tinik! (:
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