Five years after their on-screen union received widespread acclaim from fans, Filipino stars Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards return to play Joy and Ethan in Hello, love, again. The sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Hello love, goodbye finds Joy (Bernardo) living and struggling in Canada after leaving Ethan (Richards) behind in Hong Kong. Five years after the events of the first film, Ethan also heads to Canada, and the lovebirds come face to face with how much each of them has changed.
Cathy Garcia-Sampana returns to direct Hello, love, againwhich has already set its own record by marking the biggest North American release of a Filipino film. Fans around the world eagerly awaited Bernardo and Richards’ reunion, and the film offers a moving tribute not only to the challenges Filipino expats face abroad, but also to the enduring nature of young love. Although the total box office of Hello, love, again It is not yet known, it is likely that the public will take a third tour of the city with the stars, if it comes close to the high points of the first film.
TelaRant interviewed Bernardo and Alden about reconnecting on screen to Hello, love, again. The pair shared their favorite memories from filming the film in Canada, their thoughts on how Joy and Ethan have evolved as people since the first film, and their gratitude to their fans for taking a chance on a new love team.
Ethan and Joy are very different people in Hello, Love, Again
But their love remains equally strong despite the challenges.
Screen Speech: Hello, love, again takes place 5 years after its predecessor, and for the audience, it has actually been 5 years. How long did it last for you, and how did each of you feel returning to Joy and Ethan’s stories?
Alden Richards: Well, it was a challenge for us to be apart for five years in the film – and to some extent in real life, but we usually see each other whenever we can.
I think being able to step back into our characters’ shoes was quite refreshing and challenging, in a way, because a lot has changed in the five years that Joy and Ethan have been apart, and a lot of questions have been asked. What happened? What has changed individually and as a couple? I think these are the challenges the characters face as the story of Hello, Love, Again continues.
Screen Rant: Kathryn, can you talk about what’s changed for Joy? We get to watch that montage of the two of you still trying to communicate and we see things quickly fall apart for Joy.
Kathryn Bernardo: Wow, my God, so many things. I think things have changed, especially for Joy, and now we have Marie. I think Canada, and especially her relationship with Ethan, made her do this because she needed to survive. That’s why she became Marie; she needed to hide all the pain and what she went through after what happened to Ethan.
And also after the pandemic, I think all these changes that happened to her made her who she is now, which is Marie. She presents herself differently, especially with new people. She is very careful. She has a lot of walls, but at the end of the day, when she comes home, takes off her makeup and changes her clothes… I think she’s still the same Joy we all loved in Hello, Love, Goodbye. She’s just trying to get that image right there and doesn’t want to be weak.
Screen Rant: Speaking of Canada, we met Ethan and Joy in Hong Kong in the first film and now we meet them again in Canada. What was it like for each of you filming that part of the trip in Canada and what were your favorite memories?
Alden Richards: Yes, I think being able to film Hello, Love, Again in a different country helps with the character change we have to go through; the maturity and growth of both characters. The location helped a lot and, at the same time, a lot has changed in five years and they have gotten older. The circumstances that surround them have really changed the way they think and also how they approach life and love.
But sometimes in life, when we are faced with life decisions, sometimes love is always the right answer to it. I think that’s the question they’re both trying to answer, but they’re going through difficult times because of the situation and the setup they have in terms of their relationship. , if you want to talk about filming in Canada, sorry.
Kathryn Bernardo: I enjoyed filming in Canada. It’s a totally different experience from Hong Kong. In terms of distance, it’s so far because Hong Kong to Manila is just a couple of hours direct flight, but this time in Canada – specifically in Calgary, the province area – we were literally a long way from home.
I think that helped us in a way in certain scenes. The distance helped us, as he said, to also contribute to the character’s growth. It is very interesting to portray these roles again and try them once again.
The struggles featured in Hello Baby Again will be relatable to young adults everywhere
The film asks: “Is love always the answer to everything?”
Screen Rant: We hear a little from Kathryn about how Joy has changed. Alden, what can you tease about the difference between Ethan in 2020 and 2024?
Alden Richards: Ethan in Hello, Love, Goodbye, as everyone sees the character, is a calm guy. He has a lot of love to give and cares a lot about the people he cares for. But with Hello, Love, Again, a lot of things changed with this guy because of the time he spent away from Joy.
Joy is in Canada and lives on the other side of the world, in Hong Kong. And when the pandemic hit, a lot of challenges came his way, so that really contributed a lot to how he sees life now. Ethan matured drastically in this film, and I think people might be shocked at how Ethan would face the types of challenges he faces with Joy in this film.
Screen Rant: Kathryn, you’ve joked about how different Marie is from Joy, but what can you say about the relationships she builds in Canada, professionally and personally?
Kathryn Bernardo: I’ll start personally. With Joy and Ethan, I think it’s really great that we get to see how their dynamic changes as you watch the film. Of him allowing Joy to pursue her dreams of flying to Canada and then just experiencing that long-distance relationship, trying to work it out, and then boom, what happens after that? I think it’s so understandable because a lot of my friends are in long-distance relationships and it’s not easy. We can see this side of Joy as a lover and also how she was able to build her relationships.
I think just like anyone else who moves abroad, whether it’s Canada or wherever you want to go, I admire your courage in chasing your dreams and trying new things. There is uncertainty, but I think one thing I admire most about Joy is her courage. She gets what she wants, she will do anything for her dreams, and that is so admirable. She is very powerful, she is a dreamer and she has Ethan to support her in her dreams.
I think it’s really good because a lot of women go through this, especially when they move abroad and try their luck abroad. It’s not a joke. And through this film, we can see this from a Filipino perspective. What usually happens when you get there, as you start to rebuild your life once again. And separation happens, so it made everything more challenging. With all these layers, it’s a lot of fun to portray these types of roles, and I hope you can relate to it.
Screen Rant: Alden, one thing that’s so admirable about Ethan is how much he supports Joy in her dreams. Can you talk about his enduring love for her and how confident he is at the beginning of the film that they could get back together?
Alden Richards: During the first part of the film, a lot of promises were made. We saw how Ethan was so confident in how he was supporting Joy to live her dreams. And one day, they will make this future happen, of seeing each other and spending the rest of their lives together. But certain things in life come to us unexpectedly and we don’t know how the circumstances will affect our life and the promises we made.
I think because of the situation that has presented itself in these characters’ lives, there will be a lot of doubts when it comes to their individuality and being a couple. Without spoiling it too much, I think it really is [about] doing the right thing. I think this is the answer to the questions that love can’t answer all the time. Do what you think is right for your life.
AND [then there’s] the question: “Is love always the answer to everything?” I think that’s one of the questions that will be present as we re-tell Joy and Ethan’s story.
Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards thank the universe for bringing them together on screen
Hello Love, Goodbye became the highest-grossing Philippine film when it was released.
Screen Speech: While Watching Hello love, goodbyeI was reading all the comments from fans who were impressed with your chemistry. They loved the two of you together and really enjoyed watching your performances. Was that something that surprised you when the first film came out? What have been your favorite responses from fans and viewers?
Kathryn Bernardo: I think [I loved] everything that happened in the first film, and there were a lot of surprises in that time. We both came from a love team and so we were working together on this love team. They asked themselves, “What will happen if you put them on screen together?” In fact, we didn’t expect anything. We were a little nervous because we weren’t sure if it was going to work at that point, so everything that happened was really unexpected.
Even in this movie, we didn’t expect [part 2] happen, but it was another surprise. It’s great sometimes to let the universe do its work. I think this is the perfect time for us to do a reunion project together, because everyone – Filipinos here and in the Philippines – are also waiting for the sequel. And I hope this answers all your questions.
Alden Richards: In addition to what Kath said, beauty and uncertainty were one of the [best] things. We trusted the creative team, we trusted each other and we jumped in together without knowing what was going to happen. But we’re very blessed by the opportunities that came our way after the first film.
We are currently making the sequel, which I think is the result of the courage we had at that time. As Kath said, the universe is always looking for something, and you just have to trust it.
Source: Screen Rant Plus