MANILA, Philippines — It looks like 2026 is set to reveal a very different Alden Richards.
After more than 15 years of often playing the dependable main hero — the romantic lead, the overall good guy audiences root for — the Kapuso star is deliberately exploring unfamiliar and more challenging territory, both as an actor and as a producer, with the upcoming international film project “Big Tiger.”
“It’s all so new to me,” Alden admitted during a recent presscon. “I’ve been playing the protagonist for almost a decade in my career. I’ve been dreaming about playing this kind of role.”
In “Big Tiger,” which recently filmed scenes in the country, Alden departs from his usual clean-cut image to play a morally complex character in an action-driven story. While he remains tight-lipped about plot specifics, he confirmed the film required intense physical preparation.
“Marami,” he said of the action scenes. “(I did) arnis training, but it’s actually meant for knife stunts.”
Apart from the physical training for the stunts, Alden worked closely with the film’s director and writer, American filmmaker Keoni Waxman, to “reshape” his instincts as an actor.
“In terms of prep, constant communication with our director-writer Keoni. A lot of questions on how he wants the character to be executed,” he shared. “And bringing back knowledge of different villains I’ve watched in the past, how to be different, how to make this (one) new.”
In “Big Tiger,” Alden stars alongside Hollywood actors: American-Chinese actor Byron Mann, best known for his work in “Wu Assassins,” “The Man With Iron Fists” and “Street Fighter,” and Katherine Grace McNamara, who previously starred in the series “Shadowhunters,” “Walker: Independence,” “Arrow” and “Maze Runner.”
Sharing the screen with foreign actors was initially intimidating, Alden admitted.
“Intimidated at first, nahiya. Siyempre, ubusan ng English,” he said with a laugh.
But those nerves quickly faded on set.
“Para rin silang mga Pilipino in terms of being accommodating. Well, that’s based on my experience,” he said. “I am so happy, and at the same time, ang daming kwento at ang dami kong natutunan.”
But more than working with an international cast, he takes on the bigger role as co-producer in “Big Tiger,” marking his three-year-old company Myriad Entertainment’s big leap into the international film production scene.
He’s collaborating with foreign partners based in Los Angeles — Lux Angeles Studio and Birns & Sawyer. Lux Angeles Studio is a full-service film and post-production company headed by Matthew Macur, who has worked on projects such as “American Idol,” “Top Chef” and “Who’s Got Talent.” Birns & Sawyer, on the other hand, is a motion picture camera and production equipment rental company headed by Filipino-American businesswoman Maci Acevedo.
International financing, sales and production operations company Voltage Pictures, headed by Nicolas Chartier (the Academy Award-winning producer of “The Hurt Locker” and more recently “I Feel Pretty” starring Amy Schumer and Michelle Williams, as well as “Shockingly Evil and Vile” with Zac Efron and Lily Collins), will distribute the film in 2026.
“Big Tiger” was officially unveiled during a recent presscon at Shang Plaza, with Alden, his foreign partners, as well as his co-stars (including Filipino actress Max Collins) gracing the event.
This international project has been a long-awaited opportunity that Alden actively pursued, showing all and sundry that he’s not one to wait. For three years, his team has been flying back and forth to L.A. to explore potential collaborations.
He’s grateful for the trust.
“Nagkaroon ng opportunity to have a partnership with an international team. And I’d like to believe that this is the start. Sana tuloy-tuloy, and kahit papano, we penetrate the international scene,” he said.
“So far, ang galing lang na kahit bago pa lang kami — three years pa lang din ang Myriad Entertainment — the confidence that our partners give us is really outstanding.
“(As they say) a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. So I think this is a great first step for Myriad. We’re just a starting company… We’re just so blessed to have met these people.”
For Alden, the experience so far working on “Big Tiger” reinforced a personal belief that he has long held: that Filipino talent belongs on the global stage.
“Puwede pala yun na mag-collab talaga ang mga Pilipino with international partners and actors,” he said.
International partners, he noted, were impressed not only by the shoot locations but by the Filipino work ethic.
“They didn’t know that we have something to offer, na cost-effective tayo,” Alden said. “Hopefully, we can make the Philippines one of the filming destinations in Asia.”