MANILA - For the past few weeks, Star Cinema and director Erik Matti have revealed clues regarding the actress who will replace Angel Locsin as Darna for the planned film adaptation of Mars Ravelo's iconic superheroine.
During the recent Metro Manila Film Festival, Star Cinema released the first teaser for the Darna film ahead of screenings of its entries, "Beauty and the Bestie" and "All You Need Is Pag-Ibig."
The short teaser stopped short of revealing the identity of the actress, but did feature her voice and shots of her figure.
Meanwhile, Matti posted a photo of a veiled woman on his Instagram account, which many speculated to be Locsin's replacement.
On her own Instagram page, Locsin revealed that Star Cinema has already found an actress suited to take on the role in her place. She also asked fans to support the new Darna.
However, after undergoing surgery in Singapore for her disc bulge, fans again called for Locsin to take on the mantle of Darna despite her past health concerns.
"May isang araw po na gumising na lang ako, hindi na po ako makatayo, ni gapang, ni hatak sa sarili hindi ko magawa," an emotional Locsin admitted shortly after announcing the decision to drop out of the project.
On Tuesday, fans chanted "Darna" as Locsin arrived at the KIA Theater in Cubao for the Manila auditions of "Pilipinas Got Talent."
Asked for her reaction to the support, she said: "Nakakaiyak. Siyempre, 'yung pinaghirapan ko rin naman iyon sa ginawa ko. Kaya nakakatuwa na tumatatak pa rin sa tao. 'Di ko makakalimutan 'yung pagmamahal na binigay nila."
Locsin also kept fan speculations alive when she did not rule out the possibility of being recast as Darna. She said: "Hindi ko po alam. Ewan ko po."
In a poll conducted by Push last November, "On the Wings of Love" star Nadine Lustre was the overwhelming pick to replace Locsin. Liza Soberano came in second, while Kathryn Bernardo placed third.
(READ: 5 stars who could replace Angel Locsin as Darna)
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