Ang Panday (2017 film)
Carlo J. Caparas' Ang Panday is a 2017 Filipino superhero fantasy action film based on the eponymous comic book character created by Carlo J. Caparas along with his co-creator Steve Gan. Serving as the seventh installment of the Panday series, the film is directed and produced by Coco Martin, who also stars in the title role.
The film serves as an official entry to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival, and marks Martin's directorial debut under his real name, Rodel Nacianceno. The film received mixed reviews.
Plot
Flavio II and his wife take care of their newborn baby boy, whom they dream of becoming the next heroic legend. They offer the pious Rosa Batungbakal to take care of him, but the malevolent Lizardo's unlatched spirit and his goons attack the unprotected house. Rosa takes the newborn to the church to offer guidance from a priest while Flavio fends off the goons. Flavio gets stabbed and dies after fighting the spirit, who vows to rule the world.The newborn baby later grew up to be Flavio Batungbakal III, a gangster who ambushes bandits around the market in Tondo, only to get apprehended by the police. Flavio is released from prison, and his stepfather Andoy warns him not to cause havoc around the streets anymore. He lives a comfortable life along with his family and regularly meets with Maria, a beautiful woman with whom he admits being smitten, although her parents disapprove of him. Meanwhile, a new human form of Lizardo appears in the shadows alongside his father. He is strongly attracted to Maria and craves to be with her. A beauty contest competition nearby is under way, which goes awry.
Citizens turn into aswangs and secretly devise a plot to destroy Flavio's hometown, and replace it with their own. During the cataclysm, an aswang disguised as a dog bites one of Flavio's younger brother, Diego, who insists that the injury is minor. Lizardo successfully latch onto his human form, making him the leader of the aswangs planning to rule the country. Flavio realizes that he is being followed by an old man holding a magical book which contains a mysterious power. When the old man tells him about the real existence of the aswangs, he threatens him by pulling out his butterfly knife out of disbelief. An aswang suddenly appears, which the two men defeat. The old man realizes that Flavio is the only known person of his bloodline capable of stopping Lizardo and his army.
Flavio is handed a map and starts his quest by riding a bus to search for the mythical dagger. While embarking through the forest, its surroundings suddenly changes into a magical kingdom. He encounters several dwarves, whom he asks about the location of the dagger. After seeing a diwata, Flavio asks the king and queen where the dagger is. He challenges a skilled swordsman, whom he defeats, and retrieves the dagger in a cave. He summons the dagger upwards, creating a shockwave which turns it into a double-edged sword, the Panday.
He returns to Tondo and wields the Panday to defeat most of the aswangs in the hospital, train station and several communities. Diego is severely infected from one of the creature's bite and would later turn into a monster. Although distressed from his brother's plight, Flavio continues to defend the city but gets fatally stabbed by Lizardo. He falls into a coma, but is resurrected and healed by the old man. He embarks into a highland and is informed that he is not ready to fight Lizardo unless he undergoes a training and forge his sword. After his successful training, he is summoned into a desert world where he fights numerous goons. The voice of darkness enhances Lizardo's power to ensure he would win. As the voice of darkness disappears, Flavio battles Lizardo in a sword fight, which he wins after stabbing Lizardo in his weak spot to death.
Flavio visits the church with his family and Maria to commemorate their victory against Lizardo. He vows to continue saving the world from further malevolent threats.
Cast
- Coco Martin as Flavio Batungbakal III
- Jeric Raval as Flavio Batungbakal Jr.
- Eddie Garcia as old Evil Spirit
- Jake Cuenca as Antonio Domingo / Lizardo
- Elisse Joson as Rowena
- Arjo Atayde as young Evil Spirit
- Gloria Romero as Rosa Batungbakal
- Dimples Romana as Carmen Batungbakal
- Jaime Fabregas as Andoy Batungbakal
- Awra Briguela as Diego
- Julio Diaz as Primo
- Nayomi "Heart" Ramos as Ella
- Enzo "Bingo" Pelojero as Itoy
- James "Paquito" Sagarino as Empoy
- Cesar Montano as Police C/Insp. Erwin Rivera
- Jhong Hilario as Sword Guard
- Carmi Martin as Delilah
- Mariel de Leon as Maria
- John Medina as SPO3 Dela Cruz
- Lito Lapid as Apo
- McCoy de Leon as Caloy
Production
Announcement
On April 11, 2017, after winning a contest, child actor and comedian Awra Briguela stated that he has a new upcoming movie with lead actor Coco Martin. There were no official details revealed including the start of the film's production, and has yet to be titled.Development
On April 25, 2017, it was announced that a new Panday reboot is in its development stage when Coco Martin was granted the rights from Carlo J. Caparas to green-light the film, which he will star and direct. The upcoming film of Coco Martin and Awra Briguela turned out to be the second reboot of Ang Panday, which was shown by Briguela, featuring and starring in a supporting role. This is the second time Martin will portray the role first envisioned by Fernando Poe Jr., the first being the twin brothers Ador and Cardo in the television adaptation of Ang Probinsyano.Pre-production
Production on Ang Panday began on June 22, 2017 when Martin posted a picture of him holding a whiteboard with an establishing shot label along with his production crew. The working title was under the name "Panday". Before production began, Martin went to Manila North Cemetery to pay respect to the grave of Poe Jr. so he can get some assistance. He wanted his direction be inspired by prominent Filipino directors such as Mike De Leon and Lino Brocka.On July 4, 2017, Martin confirmed the complete set of cast for the film. He revealed that Binibining Pilipinas International candidate Mariel de Leon would co-star in the film as Martin's leading lady, along with some of his co-stars in Ang Probinsyano, including Onyok Pineda and Awra Briguela.
On July 24, Jake Cuenca was cast as the key villain Lizardo.
On September 27, Martin has announced that one more beauty queen will be joining the Ang Panday cast besides Mariel de Leon. It was revealed on November 9, 2017 that Kylie Verzosa is the new beauty queen that joined the cast.
Filming
began on July 9, 2017. On July 20, a video clip of Martin on the set of the film was posted on the actor's Instagram account. During filming, Cuenca was also given advice by lead actor and director Coco Martin on how to accomplish things correctly. Carlo J. Caparas was also involved in production by the said film, and he is open to random ideas for Coco Martin. Filming wrapped on October 25, 2017.Soundtrack
On August 18, Filipino rapper and songwriter Gloc-9 posted in his Facebook account that he will write a song about a man who creates swords. On September 25, Gloc-9 shared an Instagram post by Coco Martin stating that the title of the theme song will be Ang Panday and the song will feature Ebe Dancel. The song was finally released on November 24, 2017 through digital platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.On November 24, the official music video for Peksman was uploaded on YouTube while the song was released on December 1. The song was sung by the movie's director, main cast and producer Coco Martin featuring Zaito, Basilyo, Jeff Tam, Smugglaz and Shernan. Also featuring FlipTop rappers Bassilyo, Smugglaz, Zaito, and Shernan, another single from the film was released entitled Mas Liligaya Ang Pasko with Coco Martin as its main artist. The song was released on December 15.