Should Nadine Lustre Be the Next Darna? Why or why not?

It’s not always that we get to see a superheroine lead either on local television and film or internationally. As sort of a feminist myself, I want to see some women empowerment and girl power. Women and girls around the world desperately need these right now. Just to point out how right the timing is, the SUPERGIRL US TV series is making a buzz in Hollywood. I have become an avid viewer of this particular US TV series. And it would be nice to also have another wave of our own superheroine whether it’d be in TV or movie.

I am an Angel Locsin fan. Her role as Darna in television is basically one of the projects that propelled her name as one of the most popular Filipino celebrities today. She was the only reason why I had switched the channel to GMA knowing that ever since I’m a loyal ABS-CBN viewer. I admit that I was more than happy when she transferred to ABS-CBN and had received Best Actress recognitions since. I got to watch Darna, our own Filipino superhero, with Angel wearing that trademark costume. I really looked forward for her to be Darna again. The preparation was pretty evident. As we waited longer, we got more impatient. Suddenly, we are taken aback by the news every Angel Locsin fan would be disappointed about. She’s not going to be Darna anymore due to health reasons. I perfectly understand that. I would rather have her recuperate and not risk it.

So, now that it’s official, everybody’s biggest question is: Who would (should) be the next Darna? Angel said that the management has already picked someone, which makes me say something is fishy. Nonetheless, there was an online poll conducted by a known entertainment website. Well, before the result was released, I heard fans of different celebrities pitch their own idols most suited as the next Darna. Of course, I also have my own bet for that coveted role. Lo and behold, the name that the press least mentioned (she was not even mentioned in an article of mainstream news website) who should get it is actually the very person who won the said poll. Based from about than 6,000 respondents, 48% of it voted for none other than surprise surprise Nadine Lustre. Yup, that’s my current celebrity bias right there slaying ‘em all. Don’t you think this speaks a LOT of what the masa wants? The ultimate decision is still on the management but they would definitely not just ignore the public’s voice especially because this is the same public that they would sell this Darna movie to. Is it really possible for Nadine to get this role? Here are the reasons why I think she should and could not play Darna.

Let’s start with why she should:

1.       Every true Nadine fan would know that she really wants to have an action project in the future. Something as sick as the Mr. and Mr. Smith movie. Her desire to be in this genre is significant. How would one pull off a superheroine as Darna without having the passion to do every all-important action sequence? Others would be clumsy and fail because action is just not their forte BUT I believe Nadz would absolutely kick ass.

2.       Nadine’s work out includes boxing, and she’s quite good at it as was seen during one of the Kris TV episodes. This background can be an advantage for her. Besides, it also makes her fit. You need that if you wanna be Darna.

3.       Coincidentally, Nadine mentioned at least once that she wanna follow Angel’s career path. For her, Angel is one of the few who can do action and who’s good at it. Is this purely coincidental? Or is this meant to be? It maybe is written in the stars!

4.       Another coincident is, when Nadine was interviewed last year by Myx, she was asked about her favourite superhero. Her answer was Darna.

5.       Her age fits perfectly. Angel was 20 years old when she played Darna. The other celebrities mentioned besides Nadine are either too old or too young to play the role and wear the costume. If there are those who are also along that age, I don’t think they have those mentioned in numbers 1 and 2 above.

Why she could/would not:

1.    Angel saying that the management has already picked the next Darna, makes me think that MAYBE whoever she is, I am pretty sure that she is either not visible right now or she is not in any current or upcoming shows. That would make sense. Who knows? She’s probably secretly preparing for that role. This will mean that Nadine is not the one. She’s currently starring in the hugely successful On the Wings of Love, which by the way was announced to end on February next year. OTWOL is already enough to keep Nadine busy. I don’t think preparing for Darna would suit her schedule.

2.    Nadine is a VIVA talent. It’s more possible that the management would want their own homegrown talent to portray the superheroine. Let’s not forget that the rights to Darna was given to their rival station for years, the same one that spearheaded the solo careers of Angel and MR. They are probably whom most of the current generation are known as Darna on screen. When the management finally acquired the rights, and it was also fitting that Angel was already in their turf, even if Angel is not their homegrown talent, she was still the best bet for the role. But since she could not do it, the management would probably prioritize their homegrown talents more than anyone else. Just look at how visible they are on TV. Nadz is one of the few exemptions because the management had to sign her and James since they are popular. Otherwise, their rival station would get them. So, I assume that one way or the other, this would have quite a factor just in case Nadine would not be given (or even offered) that role.

3.    The Jadine loveteam comes in a package. They are together in acting projects, so far. It’d be hard to separate them especially because OTWOL is a hit not only on TV but online and abroad as well. So, if Nadine would be Darna, James should be in there too as her love interest! That’s easy! You don’t see any problem… well until you realize that James would not fit any of the characters in Darna. First, as a superheroine, basically her life revolves around saving people’s lives and fighting villains. That’s a heck of a job to do and a love interest will only take that away from it. How exactly are they going to find a character for him? He certainly couldn’t be Ding. Maybe the writers would create a character just for him…perhaps an AMBOY who got rescued by Darna and then things will develop from there. Or he can be the son of the main villain. Yeah right! Surprise surprise! Before he can even be considered, at least he should polish his Filipino. Darna is the “most celebrated superhero in Philippine comicdom”. It has a MASS appeal. If he does want to reach the MASS, he should speak straight Filipino, eloquently, fluently without the slang or any signs that he’s HALF. Let’s face it, not all of us understand English. In the long haul, if he still speaks like that, people would not be contented by his looks and talents alone. Without incorporating him, besides, we would want someone in Darna that is really FILIPINO especially when it comes to our values and morals.   

Let’s scrutinize what those who oppose Nadine as the next Darna say:

1.    Acting skill

·         As far as I know, a Darna movie isn’t supposed to be a HEAVY drama. Otherwise, it’d be just like your typical Pinoy teleserye. Nadine’s forte is romantic comedy and in OTWOL, she’s transitioning into light drama. However, her biggest acting flaw is admittedly very dramatic scenes that require such intense emotion and overflowing tears. BUT she’s improving. As long as Darna doesn’t rely more on such scenes rather on the action sequences, Nadine will have no problem pulling it off. I doubt that the movie will be that emotional. I actually bet it’d be lighthearted with good humor here and there.

2.    Plain face

·         Ironically, her ‘plain’ face is what makes her much more endearing to her fans. It’s like that’s a ‘beauty’ that is not impossible to reach. With other faces, you’d think they look SO unreachable that they are just so HIGH, which makes them act so MIGHTY that they lose their humility. As a superheroine, would you care about how you look? You’d probably forget about it because you are too busy saving lives. Besides, her skin color makes her more Filipina than all of those other young actresses that people want to be the next Darna. I mean, I don’t get why my fellow Filipinos are obsessed of having ‘white’ skin and think of it as superior to having a darker one because those who are NATURALLY white in foreign countries are, this is funny, the ones who want to be ‘tanned’. Yup, they find it more beautiful. If Nadine has a ‘plain’ face, then she’s the MOST BEAUTIFUL ‘plain’ face there is in this country.

3.    Body

·         While she was still not as famous as she is now, watching her in the teen show Bagets: Just Got Lucky, she was as fit as you can get. She was never ‘fat’. If we are talking about sexiness, I don’t think FHM would suddenly become interested to have her pose in their magazine if she’s not sexy at all! Since she’s also not a teen, you’d notice how they don’t shy away from complimenting her. Those two Instagram photos which she posted this year, but are now deleted from her account, were the nail in the coffin. She’s smoking HOT. The good thing is, she still look so classy and demure. If we are talking about fitness, as I have mentioned earlier, she had been working out. She’s good at boxing. There are a number of pictures and a video to prove that. BUT I don’t think she goes to the gym now as much as before since she’s so busy with work. So, that maybe an issue. Still, it wouldn’t be hard for her to catch up.

I am curious as to her reaction about this whole Darna rumor especially on having many people want her to be the next Darna. Thankfully, she was interviewed recently. And I gotta say, the final decision is on the management’s hands. I just hope though that they would give everyone a fair chance to prove themselves as someone who deserves to portray the “most celebrated character in Filipino comicdom”. That whoever will eventually get this role will be chosen without bias…that people would unanimously agree that SHE is perfect to be the next Darna.HereHere