Reid to lead Pinoy MCU

James Reid (Foto from facebook)
James Reid (Foto from facebook)

LOOKS like James Reid is going to be the Philippines’ counterpart of Robert Downey Jr.

According to an ABS-CBN report, Reid will star as Pedro Penduko in a film of the same name. This “Pedro Penduko” movie will then link with other Pinoy superhero films, much like Downey’s “Iron Man.”

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) started with “Iron Man.” At the end of the 2008 film that revitalized Downey’s career, Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, appeared in a post-credit scene where he told Tony Stark (Iron Man): “You think you’re the only superhero in the world? Mr. Stark, you’ve become part of a bigger universe. You just don’t know it yet... I’m here to talk to you about the Avenger Initiative.”

And then it began. Stark appeared in the post-credit scene in 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk.” Natasha Romanoff was introduced in “Iron Man 2” (2010). “Thor” arrived on earth (2011). Fury teased the Avengers on “Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011) and finally, the team was assembled in 2012 in “The Avengers.”

MCU broke records this year with “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity War.”

“Ant-Man and the Wasp” is scheduled to be released in July.

In the case of 25-year-old Reid, he is tasked to kick-start Epik Studios’ interrelated Pinoy superhero films.

Pedro Penduko is a young man who comes home to the Philippines to learn more about his Filipino roots.

The origin story, which was presented at the History Con 2017 last year, is as follows: “Peter Harris feels like he doesn’t belong. A Filipino who lived all his life in the US where he grew up being bullied since grade school. Now 20 years old, he has had enough and wants to escape. Just then, his adoptive father passes away in a tragic accident involving something supernatural that nobody can explain.”

And that’s how Peter discovers his supernatural power.

The film is scheduled to be released next year. That same year, the Pinoy superhero universe will also see the reboot of Carlo J. Caparas’ “Totoy Bato.” There are three films lined up for 2020: “Bernardo Carpio,” “Osyana” and “Maria Makiling,” which will be top-billed by Reid’s girlfriend Nadine Lustre.

In 2021, “Habagat,” which is about a flying creature that hopes to uphold peace and justice, is being eyed.

And if MCU has the Avengers, what would Viva Films and Epik Studios’ version be called?

“We call it ‘Engkantos,’” Epik Studios president Paul Alexei Basinillo told ABS-CBN News.

“Pedro Penduko” will be directed by Treb Monteras II, who directed “Respeto,” the acclaimed rap film that garnered the most awards in the recently concluded Gawad Urian 2018 with four.

Monteras was nominated for both Famas and Gawad Urian.

“I don’t want to copy iyong ginagawa nu’ng ibang bansa (what the other countries are doing),” Monteras told ABS-CBN News. “Kasi ang dami nating stories dito sa atin mismo. Sa storya pa lang, kahit na walang CG (computer graphics) or action sobrang busog na (Because we have so many stories here. The story itself, even without CG or action, is already compelling).”

“And for this film, nakikita namin siya na ganoon (that’s how we see it). Hindi siya iyong typical superhero movie na papanoorin mo lang (it’s not a typical superhero film that you will just watch) because of the effects and the action. Itong movie na ito, may mensahe (This movie will have a message).”

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