A post shared by Ok 9 (@empoy) on Nov 26, 2017 at 5:58pm PST

MANILA – Empoy Marquez has a new leading lady.

For the comedian's upcoming movie “Kusina Kings,” he will be paired with Miss Universe-Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina, who plays his girlfriend in the Star Cinema film, which also stars Zanjoe Marudo.

In an interview on Tuesday, Marquez praised Medina's jolly dispostion, saying she was easy to work with.

“Sobrang mabait siya, sobrang kalog. Pinsan niya kasi 'yung kaibigan ko, si Dianne [Medina]. So parang magkapareho sila,” Marquez said.

But he does have one "complaint."

“Parang hindi ako umabot eh, kasi ang laki niya, ang tangkad," he said of the 5-foot-8 beauty queen. "Pero okay lang, tumitingkayad na lang ako.”

In “Kusina Kings,” Marquez plays Benjie, who is works with his friend Ronnie (Marudo) in order to build a restaurant. “Magkaibigan kami rito, magkaklase, magkababata. Hanggang sa pagtanda, magkasama kami [ni Zanjoe],” Marquez said.

Their friendship extends to real life, Marquez noted.

“Si Zanjoe, sobrang dami na naming pinagsamahan. Mas lalo kaming naging close dito sa pelikula. First time namin magsama sa isang movie na kami 'yung lead, at on and off camera parang utol ko na ‘yon,” he said.

“Marami akong natututunan sa kanya. Magka-age kasi kami. 'Yung bonding namin tungkol sa age namin, yung ‘90s [na] mga banda,” he added.

The “Kita Kita” leading man also shared that he isn't pressured to match the box-office succes of his unexpected hit movie with Alessandra De Rossi.

“'Yung ‘Kita Kita,’ bukod sa indie film, love story siya [na] sa ibang bansa ginawa. Ito, panibagong panlasa sa mga tao… Iba 'yung rekado, ito’y comedy na hindi pa nila napapanuod,” he said.

“Kusina Kings” is directed by Cebuano filmmaker Victor Villanueva, who is best known for the 2017 indie hit, “Patay na si Hesus.”

Apart from Marquez, Marudo, and Medina, the film also stars Filipino-Australian actress Nathalie Hart.

Meanwhile, Marquez, who is also celebrating his 37th birthday, thanked his fans for his continuous blessings.

“Sa lahat ng mga nagmamahal sa ’kin mula po nung nag-start ako nung 2003 until now, maraming salamat po sa inyo, sa lahat ng suporta niyo. Asahan niyo po malayo pa po ang pagsasamahan natin at para po sa inyo lahat ng ginagawa ko,” said Marquez, who can also be seen in the primetime series “Since I’ve Found You.”