Atasha Muhlach steps into the spotlight in one of her biggest roles yet, leading the cast of ‘Bad Genius: The Series’, Studio Viva’s highly anticipated Philippine adaptation of the acclaimed Thai film.
Premiering on Viva One this July 17, the digital series is directed by Derick Cabrido, known for his work on the hit movie ‘Mallari’.
The original ‘Bad Genius’ debuted as a film in Thailand in 2017 and quickly earned global acclaim for its unique blend of heist suspense and academic drama. The story has since been adapted in India (Farrey, 2023) and Hollywood (2024), and now finds its Filipino voice with Muhlach as Lin, a brilliant yet conflicted student who builds a cheating empire to survive the pressures of elite education.
Atasha admitted the project was a huge shift from her hosting duties on ‘Eat Bulaga’, but one she welcomed with gratitude and determination. “Siyempre naman, kinabahan ako. It was a big shift from coming from Eat Bulaga and to now doing a serious project,” she said during a cast reveal. “But… this was just a great opportunity and a great blessing that I would never ever take for granted. And I can happily say now that we’ve been taping, that we all gave our one hundred percent.”
Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “This (acting) is something I’ve been wanting to do since I was a kid, and now that this dream is happening, I really don’t want it to go to waste.”
Lin, her character, is described as “very mysterious” with “maraming personalities.” According to Atasha, what makes Lin a “bad genius” are her “intuition, observation, and planning skills — pero mabait pa rin si Lin.”
Joining Atasha are Jairus Aquino as Bank, Gab Lagman as Pat, and Hyacinth Callado as Grace. Aquino called his role “beyond words,” expressing how different and meaningful the character of Bank is to him. Bank is a principled scholar, son of a widowed laundrywoman (Irma Adlawan), who joins Lin’s scheme out of desperation — all while under the watchful eye of their principal, Eleanor Perez (Sarah Lahbati).
Gab Lagman, chosen after much deliberation, plays Pat, a wealthy but academically challenged student who becomes the “spokesperson” for their underground operation. “Malaki ang pasasalamat ko,” he said, honored by the trust given to him.
Hyacinth Callado plays Grace, Pat’s girlfriend and the school’s It Girl. “Bubbly, outgoing, and kind,” Grace needs high grades to land the lead role in a school play. Her character joins the cheating scheme using her wit and confidence. “It’s an honor to play Grace,” said Hyacinth, adding that she fully trusts Direk Derick’s vision.
Director Derick Cabrido shared that he initially felt nervous accepting the project: “The original series has already set a standard, and hindi ka na dapat bababa doon… It’s a big challenge, and I love challenges.”
He emphasized that this adaptation goes beyond entertainment. “We want to tackle the situation of our education system right now,” he said. “Inaral namin ang bawat isang karakter to give a new flavor, new image… para maipakita ang tunay na Pinoy.”
Cabrido also underscored that Bad Genius is not about glorifying cheating. “We don’t want to send a wrong signal… We made sure that the moral lesson is there.”
Rounding out the ensemble cast are Romnick Sarmenta (as Lin’s father Vincent), Yayo Aguila (as her mother Winona), Gold Aceron, Art Acuña, Lander Vera-Perez, Lester Llansang, Andrea Babierra, Keagan De Jesus, Alex Payan, Ash Jewel, and Kyosu Guinto.
‘Bad Genius: The Series’ premieres July 17, 2025, with new episodes dropping every Thursday on Viva One. Subscribe via vivaone.ph for a high-stakes academic thriller grounded in Filipino culture, family, and moral conflict.
