Filipino superstars Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards have joined forces once more for Hello, Love, Again, the sequel to 2019’s landmark box office success Hello, Love, Goodbye. The duo surprised audiences in the Philippines and around the world with their incredible chemistry in the firm film, which told the story of Joy (Bernardo) and Ethan (Richards) finding love as overseas workers in Hong Kong. The movie’s ending begged for a cliffhanger, and five years later, fans finally get to learn what happened after Joy left Hong Kong for Canada.

Hello, Love, Again also welcomes back Cathy Garcia-Sampana, whose directorial vision had a big hand in the popularity of Hello, Love, Goodbye. The sequel brings viewers up to speed with Joy and Ethan’s lives since their farewell, moving the action to Calgary once Ethan rejoins Joy (who now goes by Marie) to work and fight for their young love. Despite the changes they’ve both undergone in their personal and professional lives, as well as the uncertain status of their relationship, one thing remains clear: Joy and Ethan’s feelings for one another are as steadfast as ever.

There aren’t many romances about long-distance relationships, and in the current climate, it’s more important than ever to highlight them.

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ScreenRant interviewed Garcia-Sampana about the exciting she felt at reconnecting with Bernardo and Richards for Hello, Love, Again. The director also shared her favorite aspects of filming the movie in Canada, her thoughts about Joy and Ethan’s evolution, and her response to the idea of making a third movie in the Hello, Love series.

Hello, Love, Again Director Was As Excited As Anyone When The Sequel Came Around

“Who wouldn’t want to know what happened to Joy and Ethan? Did their love survive?”

Screen Rant: How long after Hello, Love, Goodbye was completed did you start working on the sequel? Did you always know there would be a sequel, or was its popularity the reason it happened?
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Cathy Garcia-Sampana: To be honest, as soon as Hello, Love, Goodbye [came out], there was a big clamor already for Part 2, and we also felt like, “What if we follow Joy to Canada?” But then it just ended there, and we went on with our lives, did other films, and the pandemic happened and everything. I didn’t know that it was going to come sooner or later; it just came.

One day they said, “Cathy, I think it’s time.” And I said, “Let’s do it. I would love to tell their story again.” I mean, who wouldn’t want to know what happened to Joy and Ethan? Did their love survive? Did they make it? I had the same questions.

Screen Rant: We got to know Joy and Ethan in Hong Kong last time, and now we get to see Joy’s life in Canada. Can you talk about how filming that leg of the movie differed, and what your favorite memories were there?
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Cathy Garcia-Sampana: I love Canada, and I especially love Calgary. When I went there, I thought, “I just love this place,” because I love nature. It was Spring, almost like the setting of the film, and I fell in love with the people of Canada. They’re very kind and very patient.

They were very accommodating of us, and it’s a good thing they speak English so much. There wasn’t as much of a challenge as far as language is concerned, the way there was when we filmed in Hong Kong. Culturally, there was much more struggle filming in Hong Kong than in Canada. Of course, you cannot get away from those cultural differences but we managed. Other than that, there were actually not many difficulties in Canada. I just love the people there, and the Filipinos living there too.

Screen Rant: I really enjoyed how the first sequence took us through those five years in between the movies. What can you say about Joy and Ethan’s relationship and the growth that they’ve gone through at the start of the second film?
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Cathy Garcia-Sampana: Actually, that was one of the hardest parts, showing you what happened over five years in a very short time. In fact, I challenged myself when I told the writers, “I want this told in 10 minutes or less. I have much more to tell in the span of 120 minutes, so I can only allot that much time.” It was hard for everyone to allow the audience to experience the journey of the characters in such a short sequence.

But I think with the help of good scripting and the performances of my actors, we did well in telling that story in a very short span of time.

Screen Rant: Hello, Love, Again really explores the hardships Joy experiences in her new job. How does that lead to her becoming Marie, and what can you tell me about her life in Canada?
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Cathy Garcia-Sampana: It all started when we were conceptualizing what was going to happen next. We all thought, “Okay, what would Joy do? Who would Joy be after chasing dreams? What’s next?” I think everyone agreed that after a while that any person on that journey would say, “Hold on. What’s next? What is next for me?”

I think we would hate Joy or Marie if she continues to just think of that side of her. It’s time for her to look inside and find the joy within; who she is without success in her career because there is nothing wrong [with her]. Part 1 was great. She chose the right thing, which was her career path. But then after a while, with the help of Martha, it’s clear to her that life is more than just chasing after your dreams.

At the end of the day, you look for that home and joy inside — wherever, whoever, or whatever that may be. You find that and that makes you complete.

Kathryn Bernardo And Alden Richards Are Very Different From Joy & Ethan

“And I must commend the two for embracing that difference and that difficulty.”

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Screen Rant: I really love that Ethan is aspirational levels of supportive of Joy. Can you talk about his struggles in this movie and the journey that he goes on emotionally?

Cathy Garcia-Sampana: Alden and Kathryn always tell me, and I can see it, that Kathryn is more like Ethan in real life and vice versa. So, it was actually hard for them.

I will not spoil it, but there was a scene where I said, “Alden, do you think you can do this?” “Well, yes, Director, I can.” And I say, “Really? Because the people I have interviewed won’t. They’ll say, ‘Not this!'” Alden can, but it was hard for him to be in the shoes of these other men who wouldn’t.

In the same way, Kathryn had to be very hardened, firm, and focused [as Joy]. I remember her telling me one time during a scene, “Oh, Director, I forgave him already.” “Hold on! Already. Why?” She goes, “Make this the end of the movie! Let’s not continue doing this anymore.” [Laughs]

Yes, they are very different from who they portray, and I must commend the two for embracing that difference and that difficulty. We held hands and trusted each other coming from Hello, Love, Goodbye. We said, “I want to see Joy and Ethan back on screen.” And I think they did a good job because, after the post-production, I watched everything and was happy. I did not see Kathryn or Alden; I just saw Joy and Ethan once again. I was happy.

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Screen Rant: Are you expecting to see them a third time? Might we go further down the Hello, Love path?

Cathy Garcia-Sampana: I wouldn’t say no to that, but I don’t know. I think there’s always another story to tell. We cannot really put a period to their story or their lives. It’s always an ellipsis to me. There’s always more.

More About Hello, Love, Again (2024)

After fighting for their love to conquer time, distance and a global shutdown that keeps them apart, Joy and Ethan meet again in Canada but realize that they have also changed a lot, individually.