Jodi Sta. Maria is joining Aga Muhlach and Xia Vigor in “2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7,” the sequel to the hit 2019 Philippine adaptation of the Korean drama film “Miracle in Cell No. 7.”
Viva Films announced Sta. Maria’s casting on Thursday, Sept. 10, on social media. She will play a character named Angela in the upcoming film, which is set to be part of the 2026 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
The announcement unites Sta. Maria with Muhlach and Vigor, who are reprising their respective roles as Joselito “Lito” Gopez and Yesha Gopez from the first film. The sequel is directed by Nuel Crisostomo Naval, who also helmed the 2019 adaptation.
Viva Films has yet to disclose the complete plot of “2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7,” including how Angela figures into the story.
The original “Miracle in Cell No. 7” was a 2013 South Korean comedy-drama directed by Lee Hwan-kyung. It follows Yong-gu, a man with an intellectual disability who is wrongfully imprisoned for the death of a young girl.
Inside prison, Yong-gu develops a friendship with his fellow inmates, who eventually help him secretly reunite with his young daughter, Ye-sung.
The story later follows Ye-sung as an adult lawyer who seeks to prove her father’s innocence. The Korean film became a major box-office success, surpassing 10 million admissions in South Korea and eventually exceeding 12 million viewers.
The Philippine version was released as an official entry to the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). The film starred Muhlach, Vigor and Bela Padilla, who played adult Yesha. Its supporting cast included Joel Torre, John Arcilla, JC Santos, Mon Confiado, Soliman Cruz and Tirso Cruz III.
“Miracle in Cell No. 7” became one of the biggest films of the 2019 MMFF and was eventually reported to have earned P475 million at the Philippine box office, according to producer Viva Films.
Meanwhile, Sta. Maria recently starred in the films “Midnight Girls,” “Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon,” and “Edjop.” (Jessica Ann Evangelista © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
