Aga Muhlach talked about his first project with Jodi Sta. Maria
Veteran actor Aga Muhlach personally selected Jodi Sta. Maria as his leading lady for the upcoming Viva Films production, 2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7.
Aga revealed that Jodi was his personal choice for the role, noting that he actively advocated for her casting in the film, which is slated as an official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
In a recent interview, based on the article in The Philippine Star, Aga talked about his new MMFF entry.
“We really wanted her. We needed her,” Aga Muhlach said about wanting Jodi Sta. Maria to be part of this project. He said that it might sound a bit over-the-top, but if it’s not Jodi, it just wouldn’t work.
He admitted thatwas really how he felt. With this, he really pushed for Jodi to be included in the cast. “Thank you, Lord, ‘di ba, na nangyari lahat? Siyempre, hindi mo naman siya control, kung may ginagawa siya or ganyan. But the fact that she is here now, I’m the happiest because we have a good movie. And yung istorya niya, yung role niya, magdadala talaga,” the veteran actor shared.
Hearing this, Jodi jokingly said, “Na-pressure naman ako dun, sandali!” During Friday’s press conference, producers officially unveiled the film’s highly sought-after female lead, introducing her alongside the complete cast.
Seven years after the 2019 Philippine adaptation of the South Korean hit “Miracle in Cell No. 7” dominated the festival box office, director Nuel Crisostomo Naval and writer Mel Mendoza-del Rosario return with its follow-up, “2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7.”
Acting primarily as a prequel while also continuing the original narrative, the new film sees Aga Muhlach return as Lito, the wrongfully accused father living with a mental disability. Joining the cast is Jodi Sta. Maria as Angela, a new figure in Lito’s life and the mother of his daughter, Yesha, played by Xia Vigor.
Through this project, Aga fulfills his longtime wish to share the same frame with Jodi. “I’ve always wanted to work with her, pero hindi lang natimingan. Parang, you know, tumanda na rin kasi ako. I’ve always wanted to do one with her before, when we were younger. Hindi nangyayari,” the veteran actor said.
For him, this movie is a perfect vehicle because with the present time, it is quite difficult to make a love story between a normal guy and a normal girl. He said that it is uncertain if this kind of story would be a hit. However, he is optimistic that with their movie, his gut feel says that it will receive positive feedback.
Jodi admitted that she was almost speechless upon knowing that she was Aga’s first choice to be his leading lady in this film. “No, but really, I’m really grateful to be part of this project and thankful because siyempre yung tiwala, iba yung trust na ibinigay sa akin ni Kuya Aga at siyempre ng Viva,” the actress shared.