PHOTO BY SCREENSHOT FROM OFFICIAL HELLO, LOVE, AGAIN TEASER

(SPOT.ph) Very rarely do the country’s competing networks agree to work on something, but worthy joint endeavors merit an exception. ABS-CBN star Kathryn Bernardo and GMA actor Alden Richards are set to reprise their roles as Joy and Ethan for Hello, Love, Again, the sequel to 2019 blockbuster hit Hello, Love, Goodbye that touched the hearts of Filipinos here and those living abroad and missing home. Following its announcement, however, so many questions about the project came up so we took it upon ourselves to look for some answers.

Here’s everything we know so far about Hello, Love, Again:

Our breaths are held as we await the day Ethan and Joy can finally meet.
PHOTO BY SCREENSHOT FROM OFFICIAL HELLO, LOVE, AGAIN TEASER

It’s a GMA and ABS-CBN collab

The country’s largest networks have long been in rivalry, but there are exceptions to be made—especially if it gave rise to a blockbuster film that catapulted both their talents to greater heights. Star Cinema handled production for the original Hello, Love, Goodbye with clearance from GMA so that Richards could star in the ABS-CBN production.

Had you told us 10 years ago this would happen, we’d probably laugh in your face, but we’re pretty glad both networks took the risk and let it happen. This time around, both will be involved in its production.

Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards are back

It just wouldn’t be a Hello, Love, Goodbye sequel without the shining stars that made it what it was. Bernardo and Richards are set to reprise their roles as Joy and Ethan respectively, this time at different points in their lives.

Both actors have been asked about the possibility of a sequel, and while they were game to do one, their hands were tied and could only nudge at productions teams and staff to get the ball rolling. Thankfully, the stars aligned and it looks like everyone’s on-board with the idea.

Following the original film’s success, Bernardo and Richards maintained a good friendship over the years, with easy chemistry that had viewers laughing and crying along. Fans both old and new are sure to enjoy seeing the two together again on the big screen after so long.

Director Cathy Garcia-Molina is directing Hello, Love, Again

Another key piece to the Hello, Love, Goodbye sequel is director Cathy Garcia-Molina who helmed the OG film. Both actors expressed their desire to work with her again and looks like they just got their wishes granted.

The sequel is set five years after Hello, Love, Goodbye

According to an ABS-CBN press conference held last May 19,Hello, Love, Again will pick up five years after Joy and Ethan parted ways at the airport. Five years is both a short and long time for two almost-lovers who had to make the better choice, and we can’t wait to see what transpired during the time they were apart.

It will take place in Canada

Joy had dreams of taking her entire family to Canada, with the intention of becoiming a successful nurse following her stint in Hong Kong. The press conference made no mention of what’s to come, except that the film will be set in Canada. Even the teaser features a snowy mountain landscape where Joy and Ethan seemingly reunite after years of separation.

Executives wanted this to happen

Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, Senior Vice President for Programming, Talent Management, Worldwide, and Support of GMA Network, in a press conference said she always brought the idea up with ABS-CBN Corp. CEO Carlo Katigbak: “Sa umpisa pa lang, niloloko ko na si Carlo (Katigbak). Sabi ko: ‘Tara mag-sequel na tayo ng ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye.” Palagi ko siyang niloloko everytime may meeting kami, ‘yan ‘yung niloloko, akala ko biro lang.”

Questions will be answered

No spoilers here, but we will say Hello, Love, Goodbye had an open ending that was very much left to interpretation. Viewers had several theories as to what might happen: Joy potentially going to Canada or back to Manila, or Ethan staying in Hong Kong, or even following Joy wherever she goes. Regardless of what continuation you’re defending until the end, we’re finally getting the real timeline of events that went down after Joy and Ethan said goodbye to movie-watchers when the credits started rolling.

It’s coming out this year

If everything goes according to plan, the movie is set to hit theaters on November 13, 2024. We know that’s still a six-month wait, but we’re hoping the time flies by fast and we’re treated to some behind-the-scenes snippets while filming is ongoing.