The successful pairing of Alden Richards and Kathryn Bernardo is set to return to the big screen in November for "Hello, Love, Again." More than just being the much-anticipated sequel of the 2019 hit movie “Hello, Love, Goodbye," the upcoming collaboration between Star Cinema and GMA Pictures is Alden's 'dream come true.'

The follow-up movie will be the inaugural output borne out of the first-ever partnership between GMA Network’s GMA Pictures and ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema, and will arrive in theaters on November 13, 2024 with Alden and Kathryn reprising their iconic roles as Ethan and Joy, respectively. 

During its grand announcement event on May 19, Richards and Bernardo could not hide their elation and amazement that the sequel is finally coming together, five years after the open-ended conclusion of Ethan and Joy’s relationship.

“Parang isang panaginip, hindi ako makapaniwala na it is finally happening this year,” the Asia’s Multimedia Star said during the announcement event.

“Alam natin kung gaano kahirap gumawa ng sequel kasi for me, hindi ko naman inexpect na magkakaroon ng sequel yung ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye.’ So when they told me about it… biglang nangyari, nagkatotoo, and andito tayo lahat para sa “Hello, Love, Again!” shared Kathryn.

A FAMILIAR SURPRISE

“It feels very familiar, at the same time different,” said the Kapamilya actress.

Working on a film concept – paired with a particular someone – for the second time is always a reason to be thrilled and challenged. The evolution of narratives, the shift in dynamics, and even the personality changes all have significant bearing on the quality of the follow-up output. 

It helps to have familiar faces, and in the case of “Hello, Love, Again,”  it’s an all-familiar territory not only because they are to reprise their roles, but also because of award-winning filmmaker Cathy Garcia-Sampana being at the helm. 

“Cos it's been five years, and five years is such a long time. I’ve changed, I think we all did. Lahat tayo nagbago, I'm just curious kung ano ang maibibigay namin this time around. When we shot HLG (Hello, Love, Goodbye), I was just 23. And now I just turned 28, yung five years na yon ano kaya yung naging growth namin personally, and ano yung growth ni Ethan and Joy. tinatancha pa namin, but it's an exciting feeling,” the Kapamilya actress said.

Alden, on the other hand, feels stoked, surprised, and sentimental. 

“Nostalgic siya. Shinu-shoot pa lang namin yung teaser, naramdaman ko na, which also excites me. May takot rin syempre, kasi yun yung last time na naka-trabaho ko si Direk (Cathy) at Kath, and hindi ko alam how we are going to react with one another after 5 years. More than yung takot, it's really the excitement,” shared the Kapuso actor.

What makes all these overwhelmingly positive emotions even more special for Alden is the fact that he has always dreamt of the opportunity to make a continuation film after the tremendous success of “Hello, Love, Goodbye,” something he revealed during the media event.

“Inintay ko rin sya, after seeing the film over and over again, yung pangarap na yun nasa puso ko lang for the past five years and ito nga, dreams do come true,” said Richards.

“I am very excited for what is about to unfold in the next couple of months,” he added.