Ang Panday (2017 film)
Carlo J. Caparas' Ang Panday () is a 2017 Filipino superhero fantasy action film based on the eponymous comic book character created by Carlo J. Caparas along with his co-creator Steve Gan. Serving as the seventh installment of the "Panday" series, the film is directed and produced by Coco Martin, who also stars in the title role. The film serves as an official entry to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival, and marks Martin's directorial debut under his real name, Rodel Nacianceno. The film received mixed reviews. Plot. Flavio II and his wife Carmen take  care of their newborn baby boy, whom they dream of becoming the next heroic legend. They offer the pious Rosa Batungbakal to take care of him, but the malevolent Lizardo's unlatched spirit and his goons attack the unprotected house. Rosa takes the newborn to the church to offer guidance from a priest while Flavio fends off the goons. Flavio gets stabbed and dies after fighting the spirit, who vows to rule the world. The newborn baby later grew up to be Flavio Batungbakal III, a gangster who ambushes bandits around the market in Tondo, only to get apprehended by  the police. Flavio is released from prison, and his stepfather Andoy warns him not to cause havoc around the streets anymore. He lives a comfortable life along with his family and regularly meets with Maria, a beautiful woman with whom he admits being smitten, although her parents disapprove of him. Meanwhile, a new human form of Lizardo appears in the shadows alongside his father. He is strongly attracted to Maria and craves to be with her. A beauty contest competition nearby is under way, which goes awry. Citizens turn into aswangs and secretly devise a plot to destroy Flavio's  hometown, and replace it with their own. During the cataclysm, an aswang disguised as a dog bites one of Flavio's younger brother, Diego, who insists that the injury is minor. Lizardo successfully latch onto his human form, making him the leader of the aswangs planning to rule the country. Flavio realizes that he is being followed by an old man holding a magical book which contains a mysterious power. When the old man tells him about the real existence of the aswangs, he threatens him by pulling out his butterfly knife out of disbelief. An aswang suddenly appears, which  the two men defeat. The old man realizes that Flavio is the only known person of his bloodline capable of stopping Lizardo and his army. Flavio is handed a map and starts his quest by riding a bus to search for the mythical dagger. While embarking through the forest, its surroundings suddenly changes into a magical kingdom. He encounters several dwarves, whom he asks about the location of the dagger. After seeing a diwata, Flavio asks the king and queen where the dagger is. He challenges a skilled swordsman, whom he defeats, and retrieves the dagger in a cave. He  summons the dagger upwards, creating a shockwave which turns it into a double-edged sword, the sword of his grandfather, the original Panday. He returns to Tondo and wields his grandfather's sword to defeat most of the aswangs in the hospital, train station and several communities. Diego is severely infected from one of the creature's bite and would later turn into a monster. Although distressed from his brother's plight, Flavio continues to defend the city but gets fatally stabbed by Lizardo. He falls into a coma, but is resurrected and healed by the old man. He embarks  into a highland and is informed that he is not ready to fight Lizardo unless he undergoes a training and forge his sword. After his successful training, he is summoned into a desert world where he fights numerous goons. The voice of darkness enhances Lizardo's power to ensure he would win. As the voice of darkness disappears, Flavio battles Lizardo in a sword fight, which he wins after stabbing Lizardo in his weak spot to death. Flavio visits the church with his family and Maria to commemorate their victory against Lizardo. He vows to continue saving the world from  further malevolent threats. Cast. Additional cast was also unveiled in Martin's Instagram profile, while they are on the press conference for the announcement: Agot Isidro, Albert Martinez, Alvin Anson, Vhong Navarro, Carlos Morales, Dennis Padilla, Ejay Falcon, Epy Quizon, Jay Manalo, Jeff Tam, Jeffrey Santos, Jethro Ramirez, John Prats, John Regala, Joko Diaz, Joonee Gamboa, Kylie Verzosa, Lester Llansang, Long Mejia, Marc Solis, Mark Lapid, Michael De Mesa, Michael Roy Jornales, Mon Confiado, Onyok Pineda, Al Vaughn Chier Tuliao, Phoebe Walker, PJ Endrinal, Ana de Leon, Rhian "Dang" Ramos, Shantel Crislyn Layh "Ligaya" Nugyo, Benj Manalo, Zaijian Jaranilla, Smugglaz , and Bassilyo. Production. Announcement. On April 11, 2017, after winning a "" contest, child actor and comedian Awra Briguela stated that he has a new upcoming movie with lead actor Coco Martin. There were no official details revealed including the start of the film's production, and has yet to be titled. Development. On April 25, 2017, it was announced that a new "Panday" reboot is in its development stage when Coco Martin was granted the rights from Carlo J. Caparas to green-light the film, which he will star and direct. The upcoming film of Coco Martin and Awra Briguela  turned out to be the second reboot of "Ang Panday", which was shown by Briguela, featuring and starring in a supporting role. This is the second time Martin will portray the role first envisioned by Fernando Poe Jr., the first being the twin brothers Ador and Cardo (Kardo in the film version) in the television adaptation of "Ang Probinsyano". Pre-production. Production on "Ang Panday" began on June 22, 2017 when Martin posted a picture of him holding a whiteboard with an establishing shot label along with his production crew. The working title was under the name "Panday". Before production  began, Martin went to Manila North Cemetery to pay respect to the grave of Poe Jr. so he can get some assistance. He wanted his direction be inspired by prominent Filipino directors such as Mike De Leon and Lino Brocka. On July 4, 2017, Martin confirmed the complete set of cast for the film. He revealed that Binibining Pilipinas International candidate Mariel de Leon would co-star in the film as Martin's leading lady, along with some of his co-stars in "Ang Probinsyano", including Onyok Pineda and Awra Briguela. On July 24, Jake Cuenca was cast as the  key villain Lizardo. On September 27, Martin has announced that one more beauty queen will be joining the "Ang Panday" cast besides Mariel de Leon. It was revealed on November 9, 2017 that Kylie Verzosa is the new beauty queen that joined the cast. Filming. Principal photography began on July 9, 2017. On July 20, a video clip of Martin on the set of the film was posted on the actor's Instagram account. During filming, Cuenca was also given advice by lead actor and director Coco Martin on how to accomplish things correctly. Carlo J. Caparas was also involved  in production by the said film, and he is open to random ideas for Coco Martin. Filming wrapped on October 25, 2017. Soundtrack. On August 18, Filipino rapper and songwriter Gloc-9 posted in his Facebook account that he will write a song about a man who creates swords. On September 25, Gloc-9 shared an Instagram post by Coco Martin stating that the title of the theme song will be "Ang Panday" and the song will feature Ebe Dancel. The song was finally released on November 24, 2017 through digital platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. On November 24, the  official music video for "Peksman" (an original song by the band Siakol) was uploaded on YouTube while the song was released on December 1. The song was sung by the movie's director, main cast and producer Coco Martin featuring Zaito, Basilyo, Jeff Tam, Smugglaz and Shernan. Also featuring FlipTop rappers Bassilyo, Smugglaz, Zaito, and Shernan, another single from the film was released entitled "Mas Liligaya Ang Pasko" with Coco Martin as its main artist. The song was released on December 15. Release. The film is scheduled to be released on December 25, 2017 as an official submission entry of  2017 Metro Manila Film Festival. The official poster of "Ang Panday" was released on November 17, 2017; alongside another competing 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival entry, "". Box office. "Ang Panday" along with "" had a combined box office gross of ₱125 million in the opening day of the MMFF. It was later reported that "Ang Panday" was the second most sold film in the box office during the official run of the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival grossing behind "The Revenger Squad". At the end of its box office run, the film grossed . Critical response. The film drew mixed reviews  from critics. Wanggo Gallaga of News5 wrote, "It's a huge story that keeps jumping from subplot to subplot. It's audacious in its presentation of this narrative." He added that it fails to live up to the audacity and bigness of its ambitions, the film scores 8.5 out of 10 via critics and audiences. Other media. A new tie-in game has been announced for release on iOS and Android. The game's plot involves Flavio on a quest to travel through different worlds and retrieve the powerful sword of "Panday", while saving the world from evil forces. Ang