Actor-politician Robin Padilla has revealed that he is ready to pass on his iconic “Bad Boy” title to the next generation, with nephew Daniel Padilla emerging as the frontrunner to headline a potential ‘Bad Boy 4’.
The announcement came during the special screening and media conference of ‘Bad Boy 3’, held on June 4 at Gateway Cinema in Quezon City.
Despite his busy schedule and recent headline-making exchanges in the Senate, Robin made sure to attend the event alongside family members, supporters, and members of the entertainment media.
During the post-screening talkback session, Robin hinted that the franchise’s future may no longer revolve around him.
“Iintroduce po namin bago sa Bad Boy 4 mas bata,” Robin said. “Hindi na believable boy ako.”
The actor-senator then identified Daniel as his preferred successor to the franchise that helped define his image as the original “Bad Boy of Philippine Movies.”
“Ipapamana ko na ang Bad Boy 4 sa mas batang artista. I-introduce na po namin, si Daniel,” he added.
Supporting the idea was Robin’s brother, Rommel Padilla, who confirmed that discussions for the project are already underway.
“In the works na po yan. Dahil galing sa pinaganglingan, kailangan doon sa ka-galingan din ibigay. In the works na yan,” Rommel said.
Rommel also floated the possibility of Daniel’s rumored girlfriend, Kaila Estrada, serving as his leading lady should the project push through.
“Oo naman, para naman makita sila magkasama sa Bad Boy 4,” he said.
For many fans, the casting suggestion makes sense. Daniel has already ventured into action through the hit series ‘Incognito’, where he stars alongside Richard Gutierrez, Ian Veneracion, Baron Geisler, Maris Racal, Anthony Jennings, and Kaila Estrada.
Meanwhile, Robin expressed satisfaction with how ‘Bad Boy 3’ turned out despite taking more than a decade to complete.
The film had been in development for 11 years before finally reaching audiences. Yet according to those who attended the screening, the lengthy production period was hardly noticeable onscreen.
Robin’s wife, Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla, was also reportedly pleased with the finished product.
During the media conference, Robin admitted that returning to the entertainment industry provided a welcome contrast to the pressures of public service.
“Sa totoo lang po, mas masaya po sa showbiz kaysa politika,” he said.
“Malayong-malayo po. Iba nag ligaya po sa shooting.”
“Iba talaga itsura ko ‘pag politika. Pag politika, talagang dala mo ‘yong problema ng bayan, iba yung bigat. Showbiz, masarap eh. Kasi nag-e-entertain kayo ng tao, masaya ‘yong tao.”
For now, Daniel has yet to publicly comment on the possibility of inheriting the ‘Bad Boy’ mantle. But with Robin’s blessing and Rommel’s confirmation that plans are already being discussed, fans may soon see a new generation take over one of Philippine cinema’s most recognizable action franchises.
‘Bad Boy 3’ also stars Dennis Padilla, Nadia Montenegro, Ejay Falcon, and Joko Diaz.
