A popular Wattpad phenomenon is making its transition to live action, with Rhen Escaño and Joseph Marco set to headline the highly anticipated series ‘My Husband Is a Mafia Boss’, streaming on Viva One in 2026.
The series is based on the massively successful Wattpad novel written by the late Diana Marie Serrato Maranan, also known as Yanalovesyouu, which has amassed more than 218 million reads. Blending romance, action, comedy, and suspense, the story follows the unlikely relationship between a college student and a powerful man living a double life as a mafia boss.
This project marks the first on-screen pairing of Escaño and Marco.
Escaño portrays Aemie Romero, a spirited college student whose optimism masks a quiet strength, while Marco takes on the role of Ezekiel “Zeke” Roswell, a billionaire CEO hiding his true identity as a mafia leader. Their characters’ forced marriage and evolving relationship form the emotional core of the series.
The adaptation is directed by Fifth Solomon and features an ensemble cast that includes Frost Sandoval, Sara Joe, Jaime Yllana, Icee Ejercito, Kyosu Guinto, Aaliyah Coco, Dann Aquino, R-Ji Lim, PJ Rosario, Maru Delgado, Ara Mina, and Priscilla Meirelles.
For Marco, the project is his second major Viva One series following ‘I Love You Since 1892’, after officially joining Viva Artists Agency, headed by Veronique del Rosario-Corpus. Before Viva, Marco was known for his work in ABS-CBN series such as ‘Wildflower’, ‘Dolce Amore’, and ‘Los Bastardos’.
Escaño, meanwhile, continues her steady rise under Viva after notable performances in films like ‘Adan’ and ‘Untrue’, as well as television hits including ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’ and the TV remake of ‘Lumuhod Ka sa Lupa’. She was also part of the recent Viva One hit ‘Mutya ng Section E’.
Calling the series a strong start for the year, Escaño shared her optimism about the project, while Marco expressed admiration for his co-star’s professionalism and acting skill. Both actors said they quickly developed comfort and chemistry on set.
