With the shutdown of ABS-CBN, some Kapamilya stars have already moved to other networks. ABS-CBN has already released the contracts of its talents and employees so Kapamilya workers are already allowed to accept projects from other networks.
Kapamilya artists like Pokwang, Jessy Mendiola, and Ria Atayde have already accepted offers from TV5. They will host the new morning talk show Chika Besh along with Pauleen Luna. Pokwang will also host a game show with Jose Manalo called Fill in the Bank. Jessy will have her workout show titled Fit for Life.
Rumors are that Jane de Leon wants to be released from ABS-CBN’s artist training and management arm, Star Magic.
However, Star Magic is still holding on to their artists.
De Leon’s co-manager Tyronne James Escalante confirmed that the talent-management arm will not release their artists as of the moment.
“Hindi pa po kami nagpapa-release sa Star Magic, as of now,” said the co-manager.
He also said that there has been an invitation for the young actress to audition for an international movie but the invite was still not discussed clearly.
“May invite kay Jane na mag-audition sa international movie, pero nothing concrete,” he stated.
As of the update for Jane’s Darna movie, the co-manager said that it may be turned into a TV series that is going to be broadcasted on Kapamilya Channel but the plan is not yet certain.
“May plano na gawing TV series ang Darna sa Kapamilya Channel, pero nothing concrete pa rin po tungkol dito,” he said.
Jane was chosen to be the new ‘Darna’ two months after ABS-CBN held an open audition for the role. There were about 300 aspiring women who auditioned.
Star Cinema Managing Director Olivia Lamasan revealed that she saw something in Jane that made her believe in the young actress.
“Jane was presented to us a couple of years ago … there was this one talent handler who remembered her and told me, ‘Did you notice her back then? This kid, she can join beauty pageants.’ And then I saw her again in Halik. I thought, ‘This girl, she has something,’” Lamasan explained.
The 21-year-old actress was also chosen by the director of the movie, Jerrold Tarog.
In the teaser of Luchi Cruz-Valdes’ Usapang Real Life (URL), Jane revealed that she went through many struggles and hardships while she was auditioning for Darna.
“Wala kaming pamasahe… Naalala ko yung Skyflakes po, pinaghahatian pa namin ni Mommy the whole day,” she uttered.
Jane said that she and her mom even have to be mindful of their expenses while she was auditioning because they needed to budget their expenses.
“And then, kahit pambili lang po ng tubig, ganyan. Sobrang kailangan po naming magtipid…” she said.
They also talked about Jane’s thoughts and opinions on the cancellation of her movie ‘Darna.’
URL’s full talk with Jane will be available on Saturday, August 22 on TV5 network.
Darna was said to be canceled because of the mounting expenses. It was reported that about P140 million was already used for the film yet it still needed another P100 million for it to finish. Director Tarog said that he is mourning the film’s cancellation especially since he and the whole production team prepared for it.
“Siyempre, lalo na ‘yung buong team kasi pinaghandaan talaga. Lugi talaga ang Star Cinema kasi lock in din ang buong team dahil kahit hindi pa nagsimula ang shoot, may suweldo na sila,” the director said.
“Hindi sila pinayagang tumanggap ng ibang project para concentrated sa Darna. Tapos dumating itong COVID-19 pandemic, walang shoot kaya nu’ng nag-decide ang Star Cinema na hindi na itutuloy, wala na rin ang suweldo,” he added.
Recently, Jane spoke up about the shut down of ABS-CBN. She decided to break her silence after former Darna actress Angel Locsin called out her fellow Kapamilya artists for keeping their silence amid the franchise issue.
Jane said that with the many problems globally and locally “each of us has a different approach on how to resolve and overcome these challenges.”
“My support to the current crisis that the network is facing right now is not just measured by going out in the streets in this time of pandemic,” she said.
Jane received negative criticisms from netizens saying that she is undeserving to be the new Darna. People said that she failed to show her support even by just being vocal about ABS-CBN’s franchise issue as the network’s talent and as someone who holds great influence on the people.
Jane de Leon was cast for the role of Darna after Angel Locsin and Liza Soberano had to quit due to injuries. She was a part of the film Walwal (2018) and The Heiress (2019.) She was a former member of It’s Showtime’s ‘Girltrends.’
