Penduko Movie Details:
| Based on | Pedro Penduko by Francisco V. Coching |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino |
| Genre | Drama |
| Release date | December 25, 2023 |
| Running time | 1hr 49min |
| Age rating | G |
| Starring | Matteo Guidicelli John Arcilla Kylie Verzosa Albert Martinez |
| Directed by | Jason Paul Laxamana |
| Written by | Jason Paul Laxamana |
| Produced by | Vincent Del Rosario III Valerie S. Del Rosario Veronique Del Rosario-Corpus |
| Cinematography by | Alex Espartero |
| Edited by | Mai Calapardo |
| Music by | Paulo Protacio |
| Production Company | Sari-Sari Films Studio Viva MQuest Ventures Epik Studios Ninuno Media |
| Distributor | Viva Films |
Penduko Movie Cast & Characters:
- Matteo Guidicelli as Pedro Penduko, a young man gifted with supernatural powers from his ancestors. This incarnation of the character is a native of the province of Cebu who comes to Metro Manila to pursue a better life as opposed to previous iterations of the character who remained bound in a rural settings.
- John Arcilla as Apo Tisot, Pedro’s father who is also blessed with supernatural powers who uses his abilities for the indigents.
- Albert Martinez as Gat Blanco, leader of a secret organization who taps Pedro to work as an albularyo.
- Kylie Verzosa as Liway
- Candy Pangilinan
- Andrea del Rosario
- Arron Villaflor
- Phoebe Walker
- Cindy Miranda
- Arjo Atayde
- Annika Co
- Zombie Tugue
- JC Tiuseco
- TJ Valderrama
- Gene Padilla
- Andrea Babierra
- Joe Vargas
- Tyro Daylusan
- Migo Valid
- Mimi Marquez
- Kamille Filoteo
- Jobelyn Manuel
- Rabin Angeles
- Martin Venegas
- Kurt delos Reyes
- Charles Law
- Keagan de Jesus
- Michael Keith
- VJ Vera
- Rolando Inocencio
- Khey Dalit
Storyline:
In this new film version of the iconic comic book character, Pedro Penduko is the son of a philanthropic faith healer in the countryside. Yearning for a more modern and materialistic life, Pedro runs away to the city to live independently and pursue finer things in life. Unfortunately, he doesn’t find the prosperity he yearns. That is, until he is recruited in an underground company called Hatinggabi, where people with supernatural gifts like Pedro are formally trained and sent to heal victims of sorcery in exchange for money. His new career, however, will lead him to an identity crisis that asks the question: is his destiny to be a healer or a sorcerer?
About Penduko Movie:
Penduko is a Philippine superhero film written and directed by Jason Paul Laxamana. The film will star Matteo Guidicelli as the titular character along with Kylie Verzosa. Produced by Sari Sari Network,
Penduko is based on the Liwayway character, Pedro Penduko.
On August 10, 2017, Viva Films announced their intention to make a film reboot of the Pedro Penduko franchise by casting James Reid as Penduko; Reid had previously voiced his interest in portraying the role during the comic book launch of Regene Estolatan’s reimagined Pedro Penduko in August 2016. Nadine Lustre was later cast as Maria Makiling on October 19, 2017.
Treb Monteras II was initially hired as the film’s director, while Estolatan was hired to write the film’s screenplay.
On May 31, 2019, Reid was forced to drop out of the film due to a spinal injury. On October 22, 2019, Matteo Guidicelli was announced to have replaced Reid as Penduko for the film, with Laxamana now in the helm as both director and screenwriter and Sonny Sison as fight choreographer.
Empoy Marquez and child actor Alonzo Muhlach were also cast for the film by this time, with the former to play the regular version of Pedro Penduko. By January 2020, it was revealed that Penduko will be depicted as a Cebuano, similar to Guidicelli.
On February 25, 2020, Guidicelli began attending an acting workshop with Laxamana and fellow cast members Marquez and Nicole Omillo in preparation for the film’s production.
Principal photography began on August 21, 2023.
Penduko was originally slated for release on December 25, 2020, as an entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was delayed indefinitely. In May 2023, Guidicelli confirmed that the film is still in the works. On July 10, 2023, the MMFF announced that Penduko was among the first four films to be accepted as entries to the festival 49th edition on December 25, 2023.
