Everything we know so far about the 'Bad Genius' PH remake
Are you excited about the Philippine remake of the hit 2017 Thai movie Bad Genius?
Viva TV has now released the official trailer of the upcoming television adaptation, which gave fans a glimpse at their take on Bad Genius' premise of a brilliant high school student who uses her intelligence to orchestrate an elaborate exam-cheating scheme for wealthy classmates.
This time, the series will place audiences into the shoes of Lin as she uses her intellect and wit to help her classmates, Grace, Patrick, and Bank, pass school tests. The trailer eventually reaches a climactic point when authorities begin to close in on their operation, raising the stakes as Lin and her group face the consequences of their high-risk scheme.
What's in store for the Philippine adaptation? Here's what we know so far:
The cast
The original Bad Genius featured relative newcomers as the lead characters, namely Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, Chanon Santinatornkul, Teeradon Supapunpinyo, and Eisaya Hosuwan.
In the new adaptation, Atasha Muhlach will lead the cast as Lin. This will serve as her second major role in a TV series after the sitcom Da Pers Family.
"Once I received the news that I'm going to be doing Bad Genius, we did a lot of workshops, especially with the writing. There [were] a lot of meetings going back and forth, and I think I was able to channel my character because of everyone right beside me and also for the production," Atasha said during the press conference for the series. "This was all just one big team effort, and the reason why I can say confidently that I was able to do it was really because of them."
She will be joined by Hyacinth Callado as Grace, Gab Lagman as Patrick, and Jairus Aquino as Bank.
Other cast members include Ruffa Gutierrez, Romnick Sarmenta, Yayo Aguila, Irma Adlawan, and Joko Diaz.
The director
The series will have award-winning filmmaker Derick Cabrido in the director's chair.
He first rose to prominence as a documentary producer, having been recognized at the 2009 New York Television Festival for the documentary Pinays for Export, the 2010 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival for the documentary Tasaday, and the 2012 New York Festivals for his documentary Yaman sa Basura.
Derick later helmed hit projects such as Untold, Mallari, Wish You Were the One, Clarita, and more.
What's new in the remake
As the original film garnered rave reviews and international success, the Philippine remake certainly has big shoes to fill.
When asked how they would match or surpass the original, Jairus said that they did their best to do their own interpretation of the material.
"We did our own touch doon sa characters and own stories. Kasi this time, with tackled family, friends, and other stuff pa, about cheating and all. So, ang hirap i-equalize, but I just know na susubukan naming higitan kasi ginawa talaga namin yung best namin dito, more than a hundred percent," he said.
Gab, meanwhile, shared that the series will have an "edgy" vibe with a stronger Filipino touch.
Hyacinth added, "Every culture deals with its own different issues, whether it's in terms of family, or in school, or in general as a society. So, of course, we shed more light into the difference into our Filipino culture. But then, of course, there are still some similarities being in both Asian cultures."
Given the series tackles a controversial topic like cheating, Derick ensured it wouldn't send the wrong message to viewers.
"To be honest, marami kaming binago kahit nung nagshu-shoot na kami. Nag-rerevise pa rin kami ng script just to be sure na tama yung messaging ng whole series," he said.
"We always go back to the core of the series. Ano 'yung moral lesson dito, and why we should highlight this moral lesson. Kapag natapos nilang panoorin 'yung serye, hindi nila iisipin na hina-hype namin yung pag-cheat. Ang fino-focus namin doon sa series is that, what are the consequences of the actions of the person kapag ginawa nila ito?" he highlighted.
The Bad Genius remake will premiere on Viva One on July 17.
