There’s so much to love about this second hello after the first goodbye!
Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards are back to give fans all the feels as Joy and Ethan in “Hello, Love, Again”, the much-anticipated sequel film produced by Star Cinema and GMA Pictures. When the official trailer dropped last October 8, fans were left with burning questions: What happened to Joy and Ethan after “Hello, Love, Goodbye”? Well, the answer is coming soon, as their story picks up five years later in Canada.
During the film’s media conference on October 17, Kathryn and Alden shared their thoughts on revisiting their roles after half a decade. Both actors opened up about stepping back into the shoes of Joy and Ethan, how they connected with the film’s exploration of the Overseas Filipino Workers’ lives, and what viewers can expect this time around.
Kathryn reflected on how she now relates more to Marie, the new identity Joy takes on in the sequel: “S’ya ‘yung klase ng tao na walang pride.”
“The character of Joy is still there,” she added. “Pero nung nagka-Marie siguro, parang mas naka-relate ako kay Marie, personally.”
Meanwhile, Alden shared that playing Ethan again wasn’t too difficult, thanks to the support of the team, even though it’s been five years since the first film: “I think Ethan never really left me.”
In an interesting twist, Kathryn and Alden revealed that they actually relate more to each other’s characters than their own. Kathryn confessed that she sees herself in Ethan’s way of leading with his heart, and that the reasonable Joy resonates more with Alden.
Director Cathy Garcia-Sampana, who returned to helm the sequel, praised the growth and chemistry between the two stars.
“The trust was there… I admire both of them that they support each other so much na kahit nakatalikod, inuubos ‘yung luha,” she said, referring to how Kathryn and Alden went all out in pouring their emotions, so that each of them could pull through with their respective performances.
Reflecting on the stories of Filipinos working abroad, Kathryn said, “Nakaka-amaze kung gaano katatag tayong mga Pilipino, especially ‘yung mga nagta-try abroad. Iba ‘yung hirap n’un. It’s physically tiring. It’s emotionally challenging.”
She added that she hopes this movie does justice in mirroring their lives and gives them the respect they deserve. Alden then weighed in on how “Hello, Love, Again” sheds light on the realities of working far from home.
“Makikita rin natin ‘yung naging hardships ni Ethan in terms of being away from the people that he loves,” Alden explained, appreciating the “sacrifice and hard work” that goes into giving families a better life.
It wasn’t just Kathryn and Alden who got fans excited at the media event. The film’s supporting cast, including Joross Gamboa, Valerie Concepcion, and Jennica Garcia, joined in the fun, while virtual appearances were made by Jobert Austria, Mark Labella, Marvin Aritrangco, and Kevin Kreider.
Writers Carmi Raymundo and Crystal Hazel San Miguel also teased new thematic and structural elements to be explored in this sequel. Carmi pointed out that “time is a very big element” in the film. She noted how Joy and Ethan’s talks about their future from five years ago still play a big part in the current movie.
With all these exciting developments, Kathryn, Alden, and Direk Cathy all expressed their gratitude to the fans, as well as to the support from ABS-CBN Films and GMA Pictures.
“Hello, Love, Again” premieres in cinemas nationwide on November 13. As of today, the film will also be released globally in: Canada, the United States, Guam, Saipan, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Hong Kong. Don’t miss the chance to witness the continuation of Joy and Ethan’s story!
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