Earlier this month, it was revealed that Liza Soberano has officially withdrawn from playing the new Darna because of an injury. Talks of who will take her place immediately followed, and names like Pia Wurtzbach, Maja Salvador, and Kathryn Bernardo were some of the most frequently mentioned. Even Julia Barretto has expressed her interest in auditioning! That said, what garnered the most attention was the personal pick of Erik Matti, the film's initial director.
In an interview shortly after Liza's withdrawal was announced, the director said, "After [Liza], I only see Nadine Lustre so far as someone who can be Darna. [She's] very sultry. She has a lot of female sensuality and at the same time still looks tough and very Filipina."
Weeks later, Erik further explained to PEP why Nadine would fit the role perfectly. For one, he thinks a model or a beauty queen would not be as good of a fit because Narda has to look like an ordinary girl—something Nadine can easily pull off.
"Para sa akin, si Narda sa pagkakakilala natin ay ordinary siya, e. Ordinaryong bata na nagkaroon ng super power. So, kailangan mo, yung casting na pag ordinaryo siya, ordinary talaga ang hitsura niya," the director says, also noting how Nadine has the physical attributes the role requires. "Ang kayang maging ganoon, si Nadine. Puwede siyang ordinary na Filipina, di ba? Tapos, kapag naging superhero, puwede ring sexy na matapang, may dating, di ba? Yung ganoon."
According to the director, after Liza, he can't think of anyone else more fitting for the project than Nadine.
As of writing, no one has been confirmed to replace Liza as the new Darna. Nadine herself has yet to express interest for the role, but we'd love to know your thoughts below!
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
