MANILA — John Lloyd Cruz appears to have finally ended his hiatus from acting with a surprise appearance in the teaser trailer of a “Culion,” one of the films vying for a competition slot in the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Cruz is shown on the verge of tears in the closing seconds of the teaser released on Monday — the first look at his first film role in two years.

His last was the Star Cinema movie “Finally Found Someone” in 2017. That same year, Cruz took an “indefinite leave” from showbiz to attend to personal matters, including his new family with former co-star Ellen Adarna.

Prior to his being shown in the teaser, Cruz’s participation in “Culion” was kept secret.

Directed by Alvin Yapan and written by Ricky Lee, “Culion” is set in the 1940s and follows the story of three leper patients Anna (Iza Calzado), Doris (Jasmine Curtis-Smith), and Ditas (Meryll Soriano).

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“Anna never loses hope that soon a cure will be found, even when her baby is taken away from her. Doris believes in the myth that a beautiful diwata will soon heal the place. Ditas keeps attempting to kill herself, helpless against the onslaught of memories from the outside world.

“Together the three friends try to negotiate a life of stigma that seesaws between hope and despair, redefining their roles as women, mother, friend, and human being. In the end they prove that neither disease nor death can erase their humanity and their capacity to endure,” the film’s synopsis reads.

Joem Bascon and Mike Liwag also star in the film.

Cruz’s part has yet to be detailed, although producer Shandii Bacolod hinted that his role is “very important” and is connected to Soriano’s character.