Kyle Echarri joins the cast of “100 Awit Para Kay Stella,” the long-awaited sequel of the 2017 blockbuster hit “100 Tula Para Kay Stella,” starring Bela Padilla and JC Santos.
According to director Jason Paul Laxamana, Echarri’s character Clyde will be competing with Fidel (Santos) for the affection of Stella (Padilla).
“Kyle is the man Fidel wishes he could be,” Laxamana teased in an interview. “When we were conceptualizing, gusto namin aside from reunion, siyempre dapat may obstacle o third party. sino ba pwede threat kay Didel.”
Echarri admitted that while he feels “blessed” to be part of the film, he is feeling a bit of nerves.
“I am grateful. Nakaka-pressure kasi ang laki na. But I am not allowing the pressure to get to me. I am enjoying the ride,” he said.
Padilla and Santos, who are reprising a role for the first time, shared that while they enjoyed the nostalgia, stepping back into their characters proved to be a challenging experience.
"May nostalgia revisiting characters. May excitement, may kaba. hirap pala ng ginawa ko noon. all of the things, the speech. dami namin gusto patunayan ng panahon na yun,” Santos recalled.
“It is scary to do something twice kaysa bago character. We are still figuring out who is Stella now,” Padilla said.
“100 Awit Para kay Stella” will pick up to the present day— about 15 years after the film’s last cut.
It will also tackle the modern dating trends and experiences.
“Natapos kasi original movie, one year after grumaduate ng college. Present time na. Kung ano pa yung mga loose threads ng character sa original at gusto ko ma-resolve pa. Ganon ang atake,” Laxamana detailed.
“Gusto ko mag-resonate sa Gen Alpha at Gen Z. I want to prioritize personal healing traumas and personal growth of characters beyond romance,” he added.
The director added the film will bled some musical elements as they are also eyeing to bring it to the stage.