Real to Reel: Ruru Madrid and Bianca Umali navigate what-ifs in ‘The Write One’
What if one day, you are given a chance to change your past? What if your ‘what ifs’ come to life?
Kapuso homegrown artists and Sparkle stars Ruru Madrid and Bianca Umali headline their much-awaited romantic drama series together in “The Write One” – the first collaboration between Philippine broadcast giant GMA Network and leading pan-regional over-the-top (OTT) video streaming service Viu.
Streaming on Viu Philippines since March 18, and premiered last March 20 on GMA, GTV, Pinoy Hits, and I Heart Movies, “The Write One” is a ground-breaking story about Liam (Ruru), a frustrated writer who is given a chance to rewrite his love and life story with the help of a mysterious typewriter. Joining Ruru and Bianca are fellow Sparkle artists Mikee Quintos and Paul Salas.
In the story, Liam’s priority is to produce his dream TV series. Joyce (Bianca), on the other hand, gives up her budding showbiz career to be a wife to Liam and mother to their son Dex.
With the love between Liam and Joyce dimmed by the years that have passed, both wonder what could have been had they not given up their individual dreams. Until Liam stumbles upon an antique typewriter and finds himself writing – and magically making real – the revised story of his life.
In the new timeline, Liam is a creative manager of a film production company while Joyce is the most-sought actress of her generation. Liam finds that he is in a relationship with fashion icon Via (Mikee). Joyce, on the other hand, is being wooed by Hans (Paul) – a lawyer who offers Joyce both emotional and financial security.
Liam soon finds himself wondering: Does destiny put people in the right place to make the right choice? Or does an individual have full control of what he thinks and does, for him to meet the one written in the stars for him to love?
The Write One is produced by GMA Public Affairs – the same team that created the Philippines’ Most Watched TV show for 2022, ‘Lolong,’ and the hit mystery-romance miniseries ‘Love You Stranger.’ It is the latest primetime show bannered by Ruru following the success of ‘Lolong’ and Bianca, who received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Farrah in the 2020 breakthrough family drama series ‘Legal Wives.’
This also serves as Ruru and Bianca’s first-ever project together. The real-life couple – fondly called by their fans as RuCa – also treats viewers to their first on-screen kiss through the series.
“I’m really also excited to be given this chance to work with Bianca in a romantic drama series like this,” says Ruru. “I’m also happy to be reunited with GMA Public Affairs after I did ‘Lolong’ with them, which is really a huge success,” he added.
Bianca shares that having Ruru as her on-screen partner takes some adjustments. “Sanay kami na kaming dalawa ‘yung pahinga ng isa’t isa. Hindi kami sanay na kami yung trabaho ng isa’t isa,” she admitted.
Taking their chemistry to the small screen as well, Mikee and Paul are reunited after their first series together ‘The Lost Recipe.’
“Nag-audition ako for this sa Prague, habang nasa Europe pa kami. When we got back to Manila, nag-screen test kami (ni Paul) for both the characters with Bianca and Ruru,” shares Mikee.
Paul also gets to work with Ruru again after Lolong. “Ibang-ibang kami ‘yung makikita n’yo,” Paul shares. “Kung ako before, kinaiinisan sa Lolong, baka dito, mahalin niyo na ako,” he teases.
The series likewise sees the TV reunion of veteran actors Ms. Lotlot De Leon and Mr. Ramon Christopher who play Liam’s parents. Further giving life to the story are highly-esteemed character actors Mon Confiado, Alma Concepcion, and Art Acuna. Sparkle stars Kokoy De Santos, Royce Cabrera, Kaloy Tingcungco, Analyn Barro, Yvette Sanchez, and Euwenn Mikaell Aleta complete the cast. Viewers can also look forward to various special guests gracing the series.
Directed by King Marc Baco, The Write One is an original concept of Executive Producer Mark Anthony Norella.
Don’t miss The Write One on GMA Telebabad, Mondays to Thursdays, 9:35 PM on GMA with simulcast airing on Pinoy Hits and I Heart Movies, and at 11:30 PM on GTV. Viewers abroad can also catch the program via GMA Pinoy TV. Catch the advanced episodes of The Write One on Viu Philippines from Saturdays to Tuesdays.
The Viu app is available on App Store, Google Play and select Smart TVs, as well as on the web at www.viu.com.
