Last July 21, it was reported in PEP Scoopbox that newbie actor Alden Richards has replaced Aljur Abrenica in the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry Panday 2, which stars Senator Bong Revilla Jr. and Marian Rivera.

Alden confirmed this to PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) when we interviewed him last August 4 at the Manila Bay harbor after his dinner cruise date with FHM Magazine's Sexiest Woman of 2011 Sam Pinto. (CLICK HERE to read related story)

"Yes, it's true," said the 18-year old actor. "Pero I cannot give details kasi sa MMFF pa yun."

Alden said that Aljur had to be relieved from the movie because he has previous commitments abroad that are in conflict with his shooting schedules for Panday 2.

"Bale nag-re-shoot na lang kami ng scenes na nagawa na ni Aljur, kasi nakapag-shoot na rin siya ng ilang scenes before. Buti kinaya naman ng schedule," explained Alden on how the production staff of Panday 2 coped with the transition of actors.

THE ROAD. Aside from Panday 2, Alden is also set to star in the horror flick The Road by director Yam Laranas.

Alden describes his character by saying, "Para akong disturbed boy na maraming issues sa buhay.

"Yung mga issues na yun ang magtutulak sa kanya na gumawa ng masama at yung mga gagawin niya na masama yun ang dapat nilang abangan."

Laranas's previous project, Sigaw, starring Iza Calzado, made a breakthrough in Philippine cinema as it was picked up by Hollywood film producers and reinterpreted into The Echo starring Jesse Bradford.

Does Alden expect The Road to become a hit in Hollywood as well?

"Dream come true po yun pag nagkataon," he replied humbly.

TWEEN ACADEMY. Coming this August is GMA Films' Tween Academy Class of 2012 where Alden stars as Christian, the popular high school heartthrob.

"In my opinion po, Tween Academy is like the beacon, the start of trending the tween-themed movies back to cinemas," says Alden.

"Kumbaga, after ilang decades na walang tween-themed movies na pinapalabas ang cinemas, hopefully itong Tween Academy will be the start again to produce more teen oriented shows and movies.

"Kasi parang ang daming makaka-relate na teenagers nowadays. And yung theme ng Tween Academy is not just the typical na yung focus niya is on love issues but it's more on high school reality.