GMA-7’s Philippine adaptation of the hit 2020 Korean drama Start-Up is one of the Kapuso network’s big projects this 2022.
Announced last Friday, March 4, the new show will be headlined by Bea Alonzo and Alden Richards.
More details about the Start-Up adaptation were presented by the executives of GMA-7 during a media conference on Friday, March 11, including how Bea and Alden were chosen for the lead roles.
According to Lilybeth G. Rasonable, GMA senior vice president for Entertainment Group, they already had Alden in mind for Bea's first project with the network after her transfer from ABS-CBN.
She said, “Iyong sa pagpili kay Bea and kay Alden, actually, noong papasok si Bea, talagang inisip namin si Alden ang magiging partner niya for her first project.
“We really looked for a material na babagay sa kanila. And Alden has always expressed also, including Bea, na gusto nila gumawa ng isang Korean adaptation.
“And we have been looking… kumbaga, sabay-sabay siya nangyari, it was not one thing that happened [after another]. Sabay sabay nangyari.
"We have been looking for a material that we can adapt after doing the successful Descendants of the Sun to the time we were already talking with Bea.
Then, at the same time, we were already thinking of the next project of Alden.
“So, kumbaga, the stars aligned kaya nangyari iyong Start-Up, kaya nangyari iyong Bea-Alden casting para sa Start-Up.”
As for the other cast members, Rasonable said GMA-7 will reveal them soon.
She said, “In the next few days, mari-reveal na unti-unti the rest of the cast.
"I just can’t do it now because we have a grid with CJ ENM on the promotion of this show and we’re bound to that, but it will come in the next few days.”
CJ ENM is the producer and owner of the rights of Start-Up.
NETIZENS TALKING ABOUT START-UP
As early as January 2022, social media was abuzz with rumors of GMA-7's plan to do a Start-Up adaptation with Bea and Alden as lead stars.
There were also speculations about their co-stars, but none of these talks were officially confirmed by GMA-7.
It was on March 4 that the Kapuso network finally released the official announcement about Bea and Alden headlining the series.
Rasonable was asked about the network's reaction to information about a new show being leaked, usually by fans, on social media ahead of official statements.
She first answered with a laugh then said, “I’m really amazed kung papaanong nagli-leak itong mga bagay na ito, pero magagaling iyong mga nagpu-post on social media.
“Siyempre, nakaka-tense kasi mahigpit din iyong may-ari ng franchise.
"So they have a certain way of doing things na kailangan din namin sabayan—from how we will promote, how we will announce, the kind of announcements that we will do.
“So, siyempre, parati na lang kaming nagsasabing hindi galing sa amin iyan, they are just guessing and all that.
"Kasi sa totoo lang, talagang hindi naman nanggagaling sa amin, sa produksiyon.
“Dahil alam nila, even Bea knows, even Alden knows, we cannot say anything until it is really confirmed and we follow the schedule.”
The rumors on social media came with comments from netizens.
While others got excited with the adaptation and Bea’s first teleserye on GMA-7, there were also those who are not in favor of Start-Up getting a Pinoy version.
Rasonable assured the Pinoy fans that all of the cast members were meticulously chosen before the management greenlighted the project.
She said, “Actually, it was a long, tedious process of arguments between the production—iyong writers, director, kami, may kanya-kanya kasing idea kung sino ang babagay.
“Lahat, of course, nakapanood. Ako, personally, talagang I really loved the show so kapag nag-isip ka ng casting, gusto mo idikit talaga.
“So, at the end of the day, kailangan may consensus kami kung sinong pinakabagay, bagay din kay Alden at kay Bea.
"Sino iyong bagay na kapatid, sino pinakabagay na magpo-portray na grandmother, all of those things.”
As content creator, Rasonable is aware that the network cannot please everyone.
But the GMA executive is confident that they can do it right especially with the success of GMA-7's adaptation of another hit K-drama Descendants of the Sun.
She continued, “Of course, palaging may risk na hindi mo masa-satisfy naman lahat ng fans ng show, e.
"But we’re just hoping that we will be able to do a good job doing the remake in the Filipino way na mas magugustuhan sana ng audience.
“Gusto naman natin iyon mangyari in the same way na noong Descendants of the Sun ay we did not disappoint.
“Of course, marami rin namang comments noon and even bashing noong lumabas yung Descendants of the Sun, hindi nila in-expect ganito ganyan.
“Pero when they finally saw it and watched it, tumigil na yung mga reklamo or bashing because they saw that we did our best, and I think we really did a good job.
“So I am confident, we have that experience backing us up that this [Start-Up] will be a good one, another remake that will be a good one for our Filipino audience."