Chito Roño takes over as ‘Darna’ director

ABS-CBN announced on Monday, October 4, that Chito S. Roño has been officially tapped to direct the upcoming Darna TV series. 

“He is expected to take today’s audiences to the edge of their seats with his expertise in visual effects production and masterful storytelling for the adaptation of the heroine created by the late Mars Ravelo,” ABS-CBN said in a statement. 

Roño previously directed the ABS-CBN fantasy series Imortal, Lastikman, and Spirits. He also served as the director of horror films Feng Shui and The Ghost Bride, and award-winning drama films Dekada ‘70 and Bata Bata Paano Ka Ginawa. 

Roño is the third director to take over the Darna adaptation since the project was first announced back in 2014. 

It was originally supposed to be a movie under the direction of Erik Matti and starring Angel Locsin, who donned the iconic costume in 2005. Angel, however, left the project due to health concerns.

In 2017, Liza Soberano was announced as the new Darna but had to back out after suffering a finger injury. 

Matti exited the project due to “creative differences.” Jerrold Tarog was set to direct the Darna movie following Matti’s exit but Tarog also left the project in January 2021 due to “scheduling conflicts.” 

Jane de Leon was chosen to play the iconic role in 2019 after a series of auditions. They already shot a few scenes before it was announced that the movie had been “postponed indefinitely.” 

ABS-CBN finally announced in December 2020 that the project would push through as a TV series, instead of a movie.

In an interview with TV Patrol, De Leon said  that filming for the series is set to start in November. “Actually, nakapag-fit na ako ng costume. Naiyak ako, ‘yung feeling na nilalagay na sa akin ‘yung headdress. Nagpasalamat ako kay Lord na matutuloy na,” she said. 

(Actually, I was already able to fit the costume. I became emotional when I was wearing the headdress. I thanked the Lord that it’s finally pushing through.)  – Rappler.com