Award-winning actor Dennis Trillo has revealed that he wasn’t the original choice to play the lead role of Domingo Zamora in the critically acclaimed film ‘Green Bones’ — a performance that later earned him the Best Actor trophy at the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Dennis shared that he was initially offered a different role in the film — that of Xavier Gonzaga, the security officer portrayed by Ruru Madrid.
“Papasok ng 2024, noong unang inalok sa akin ang pelikulang Green Bones, ako daw ay gaganap bilang Xavier Gonzaga, isang security officer na magkakaroon ng isang ‘mortal na kaaway’ na PDL sa loob ng isang correctional facility,” he wrote.
He immediately said yes to the project, especially excited by the opportunity to work with one of his dream co-actors — who at the time was cast as Domingo Zamora, a convicted killer grappling with his sins behind bars.
“Napa oo agad ako dahil maganda ang materyal at makakatrabaho ko ang isang artistang noon ko pa pinangarap na makasama sa isang proyekto,” he added.
However, things took an unexpected turn when the unnamed actor backed out. According to Dennis, the production had difficulty finding a replacement capable of portraying the complex character of Zamora.
“Dumaan ang ilang pag-uusap at hindi umubra na mapasali siya sa pelikula… ako ay nagdalawang-isip na tanggapin pa ito. Nahirapang maghanap ng ibang artistang papalit sa kanya,” Dennis said.
Eventually, the lead role was offered to him — a decision he initially met with hesitation.
“Hanggang sa… isang araw nagpasya sila na ibigay na lang sa akin ang role ni Zamora… unang reaksyon ko… ‘kaya ko ba ito?’”
As it turns out, Dennis more than delivered. His performance drew widespread acclaim, cementing his stature as one of the finest actors of his generation.
While he didn’t name the original actor attached to the role, one netizen commented that it was intended for John Lloyd Cruz — a speculation Dennis didn’t confirm but did acknowledge with a ‘like’ on the post.
‘Green Bones’ is now available for streaming on Netflix.
