Coco Martin and promising young star Julia Montes pair up for the first time for ABS-CBN’s upcoming primetime series, Walang Hanggan.
Released in 1991, Hihintayin Kita sa Langit is a local adaptation of an Emily Jane Brontë classic novel titled Wuthering Heights. The romance drama film was originally shot in scenic Batanes and starred Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta. The love team partners eventually fell for each other but they ended up marrying different persons: Richard is currently married to Lucy Torres while Dawn is the housewife of Representative Anton Lagdameo.
The film reaped several awards including a FAMAS Best Actress award for Dawn, a Gawad Urian Best Actor award for Richard, a Gawad Urian Best Director award for Carlos Siguion Reyna, and was voted “Movie of the Year” in 1992 by several award giving bodies.
Directed by Jerry Sineneng and Trina Dayrit, Walang Hanggan tells the story of star-crossed lovers who have to deal with revenge and family feud. In the show, Richard is cast as a rich haciendero Marco who is smitten by a beautiful farm worker named Emily (played by Dawn). The couple promised to love each other through infinity but circumstances force them to break up. Emily ends up being jailed, prompting her to seek revenge on the family of Marco.
Walang Hanggan marks the return of Coco to the small screen after playing the dual roles of Alexander and Javier del Tierro in Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin. Meanwhile, Julia gained fame as the kontrabida Clara in Kapamilya show, Mara Clara. This TV series will also mark the return of Richard Gomez to ABS-CBN and the first time that former Kapuso star Paulo Avelino will be seen on a Kapamilya teleserye.
In an interview with Entertainment Live last December 31, Coco and Julia expressed their excitement for the show wherein they will bring life into the characters of Daniel and Katarina, respectively.
Coco happily notes that he has a good working relationship with Julia. He said, “Magaan katrabaho si Julia kasi hindi siya mapili. Nakikinig siya sa director, sa aming lahat na artista…”
On her leading man Coco, Julia remarked, “Di naman kami masyadong matagal magkasama sa showbiz. Maalaga naman siya.”
Is there a possibility of a romance between the two?
Coco replied with a smile, “Ayoko naman magsalita ng tapos. Ako naman ang sabi ko, pag nagtratrabaho naman, di naman pwede akong magsosolo ka sa trabaho para walang problema. Di mo rin masasabi…”In a separate interview with ABS-CBN News, Coco admitted that he is a huge fan of the original movie starring Richard and Dawn. “Inspired ito sa Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit. Noong bata ako isa iyon sa mga pelikulang pinanood ko. Hanggang ngayon kapag pinapalabas siya sa TV, talagang pinapanood ko pa rin.”
“Siyempre makakasama ko si Richard Gomez, tapos yung dati pa niyang pelikula yung soap na gagawin namin so napre-pressure ako. Sana mapanindigan ko ulit at magawa ko ng tama yung role ko.”
Walang Hanggan also features veteran actresses Helen Gamboa and Susan Roces as well as Rita Avila, Melissa Ricks, and Joem Bascon with the special participation of Eddie Gutierrez and Joel Torre.
