Focus on the Philippines: Kris Aquino rumoured to star in Hollywood’s Crazy Rich Asians

Plus: Filipino-American contestant Anatalia Villaranda eliminated from The Voice US, while seven Filipino films are scheduled to screen at this week’s Udine film festival in Italy.

Kris Aquino. Courtesy ABS-CBN Entertainment
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Actress Kris Aquino, one of the biggest names in the Philippine entertainment industry, has been cast in the forthcoming Hollywood adaptation of Kevin Kwan's bestselling novel Crazy Rich Asians, according to reports from various media outlets in the Philippines.

The book, published in 2013, is a multi-generational satire about a clan of wealthy Singaporeans.

On Tuesday, Aquino revealed on social media that she has signed a contract with the international talent management and production company East West Artists, which is based in Los Angeles, California. “My entertainment career will be under the direct supervision of one of their partners, Chris Lee,” wrote Aquino.

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Aquino flew to Hollywood last Sunday to sign the contract and meet with the producers of the film adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians. Rumours about Aquino's casting escalated when Kwan, the novel's author, followed Aquino on her social media accounts.

Aquino, 46, is dubbed the “Queen of All Media” in the Philippines, having appeared in multiple film, television and advertising projects since 1990. Aquino is the daughter of the late President Corazon Aquino and Senator Ninoy Aquino, and the sister of President Noynoy Aquino, who led the country from 2010 until 2016.

Aquino said that on March 23, the Filipino Tony- and Grammy-winning Broadway producer Jhett Tolentino contacted her and asked if she was interested in auditioning for a Hollywood studio film. Tolentino was apparently in contact with one of the film’s casting agents.

“The pressure was I had to submit my reel in 72 hours,” Aquino wrote on an Instagram post. “I passed five levels of intense scrutiny and was offered a role. It is surreal to be reading the script from a major Hollywood studio watermarked on every page with my name.”

Warner Brothers acquired the film rights to Crazy Rich Asians on October 2016, with the filmmaker Jon M Chu (Step Up 3D, G I Joe: Retaliation, Now You See Me 2) hired to helm the movie. Chu recently posted on Twitter that the film will feature "amazing Asian actors cast in every single role. It's time."

Cast to play the lead roles are Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding, Sonoya Mizuno and Gemma Chan. Aquino’s role on the film is yet to be revealed. Production is set to begin this month in Singapore and Malaysia.

Anatalia Villaranda eliminated from The Voice US

Filipino-American contestant Anatalia Villaranda has failed to advance to the Top 12 of the American edition of The Voice. Villaranda, 16, was eliminated on this week's episode after not receiving enough public votes to carry her through the next round of the reality singing programme.

During Monday's Top 20 episode of The Voice US, Villaranda performed a cover of Ben E King's 1960 classic Stand By Me. Though she received praises from the judging panel, the audience did not choose her to advance to the final 12.

Villaranda, a child of Filipino immigrants, became a frontrunner on the show after her audition performance last month turned the chairs of all four celebrity judges Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Villaranda chose Keys to coach her throughout the competition.

Villaranda posted on social media: "Being a part of Season 12 of The Voice has been an incredible experience! I feel like I'm still walking in a dream with all I've learned and everything I've walked away with."

She added: “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know I’m not the same young woman who walked on stage to sing a Bruno Mars song scared to know if even a single chair would turn. As cliché as it may sound, this really is just the beginning of my journey — with my whole life ahead of me — because I still have a dream to pursue!”

Filipino films to screen in Udine festival

Seven Filipino feature films have been selected to screen in the Far East Film Festival, which will be held in Udine, Italy from April 21 to 29.

Competing for the festival's Audience Award are Erik Matti's horror thriller Seklusyon, Jun Robles Lana's drama Die Beautiful and Jason Paul Laxamana's comedy Mercury is Mine.

Baby Ruth Villarama's Sunday Beauty Queen, which won the Best Picture prize at the recent Metro Manila Film Festival, is featured in the documentary section.

Three Filipino films will also be showcased in the festival's Classic Restoration section: Mario O'Hara's Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (Three Godless Years) (1976), Mike de Leon's Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising (1977) and Lino Brocka's Cain at Abel (1982).

artslife@thenational.ae