It’s official! Asia’s Multimedia Star Alden Richards and New Generation Movie Queen Bea Alonzo will star in a movie to be co-produced by Viva Films, GMA Pictures, and APT Entertainment.

The contract signing between Viva Films, GMA Pictures, and APT Entertainment happened today, March 2, at Sourdough Cafe in Quezon City.

The movie will be the Philippine adaptation of the Japanese TV drama titled Pure Soul, the same source of the hit 2004 South Korea movie A Moment To Remember.

According to Bea, their movie will have a modern look and a Filipino touch since it has been 20 years since Pure Soul aired in Japan.

“But then we’re very lucky na nag-inject si Ms. Mel Del Rosario ng Filipino culture doon sa script. And since it’s an old title, it was done in 2004, so marami na ring nagbago sa society natin, obviously, with social media and all.

“I can say na it’s going to be a little bit different from the original title but we will make sure that it is going to be a good one,” she said in an interview with GMANetwork.com

Meanwhile, Alden revealed that he and Bea agreed not to watch the foreign versions of the film to show their own take on the role.

This is the first time for both Alden and Bea to star in a movie adaptation.

Alden said, “Since it’s an adaptation, we agreed to not really watch ‘yung Japanese version, ‘yung Korean version, kasi parang, siyempre, kahit papaano naman, kapag may project na ganito, there’s always a comparison.

“What we wanted, as actors, to do our take on how we understood the role.”

Aside from Alden and Bea, also present at the contract signing were Viva Communications President and COO Vincent Del Rosario, GMA Pictures President and Programming Consultant to the Chairman and CEO Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, and APT Entertainment CEO and President Mike Tuviera.

According to Sir Vincent, the movie was really made for Alden and Bea.

He said, “Mahirap to imagine na not a combination of [Alden and Bea]. I think sila ‘yung perfect for the two roles.”

The Alden-Bea movie also marked the first time that the three production companies will be working together.

According to Ms. Annette, they have been planning for this project even before the pandemic.

She said, “Itong dream project na ‘to, sinusubukan na namin even before the pandemic.

“Finally, nagkatotoo na ‘yung aming panaginip, this is now a reality.”

Meanwhile, Direk Mike called the co-production between Viva Films, GMA Pictures, and APT Entertainment a “true partnership.”

Direk Mike explained, “Ang sarap kasi it’s a true partnership. You would think with these three companies na parang there would be clashes in terms of creative, wala. Super smooth.”

“For a collaboration among three production companies, this is so smooth.”

The Philippine movie adaptation of Pure Soul will be directed by Nuel Naval.