FILIPINOS will have to wait before Darna flies on the big screen as production for the upcoming film has been “postponed indefinitely” due to the pandemic.
In a statement released Friday, ABS-CBN said the “Darna” project starring Jane de Leon has been shelved, citing the “impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on movie production and cinemas.”
The Kapamilya network was quick to add, however, that it still holds the rights to “Darna.”
“We are committed to following production guidelines under the ‘new normal’ and the safety of the actors and production team is a top priority. However, because the movie requires complex logistics, crowd shots, and fight scenes that involve physical contact, it will be difficult to give justice to the superhero film while strictly adhering to the guidelines,” ABS-CBN said.
“We are still in the midst of an unprecedented health crisis that makes it also difficult to assess when cinemas will recover and see audiences returning,” it added.
ABS-CBN thanked the cast, staff, and production crew for “all the hard work they put into the project.”
The multimedia conglomerate also expressed gratitude to “Darna” creator Mars Ravelo, fans, and the public “for their unrelenting support and understanding.”
Cameras started rolling for the “Darna” movie last January, with De Leon as the lead star and Jerrold Tarog as director.
Tarog officially became part of “Darna” in October 2018 after replacing original director Erik Matti, who departed from the project due to “creative differences” with producer Star Cinema.
De Leon, meanwhile, took over the “Darna” role from Liza Soberano and Angel Locsin, who were both attached to the superhero movie but had to back out because of injuries. (ABS-CBN)
