Matteo Guidicelli as Pedro Penduko, a young man gifted with supernatural powers from his ancestors. This incarnation of the character is a native of the province of Cebu who comes to Metro Manila to pursue a better life as opposed to previous iterations of the character who remained bounded in a rural settings.[2]
On August 10, 2017, Viva Films announced their intention to make a film reboot of the Pedro Penduko franchise by casting James Reid as Penduko; Reid had previously voiced his interest in portraying the role during the comic book launch of Regene Estolatan's reimagined Pedro Penduko in August 2016.[5]Nadine Lustre was later cast as Maria Makiling on October 19, 2017.[6][7]Treb Monteras II was initially hired as the film's director, while Estolatan was hired to write the film's screenplay.[8]
On May 31, 2019, Reid was forced to drop out of the film due to a spinal injury.[8] On October 22, 2019, Matteo Guidicelli was announced to have replaced Reid as Penduko for the film, with Laxamana now in the helm as both director and screenwriter and Sonny Sison as fight choreographer.[9]Empoy Marquez and child actor Alonzo Muhlach were also cast for the film by this time, with the former to play the regular version of Pedro Penduko.[10][11] By January 2020, it was revealed that Penduko will be depicted as a Cebuano, similar to Guidicelli.[12]
On February 25, 2020, Guidicelli began attending an acting workshop with Laxamana and fellow cast members Marquez and Nicole Omillo in preparation for the film's production.[13][14]
Penduko was originally slated for release on December 25, 2020 as an entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).[15][16] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was delayed indefinitely. In May 2023, Guidicelli confirmed that the film is still in the works.[17] On July 10, 2023, the MMFF announced that Penduko was among the first four films to be accepted as entries to the festival 49th edition on December 25, 2023.
^"The Source: James, handang humiwalay kay Nadine!". Abante News Online Archive (in Filipino). Prage Management Inc. 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2023. Sa interview namin noon kay James, sinabi niya na handa siya na magsolo at humiwalay muna sa loveteam nila ni Nadine Lustre kung ibibigay sa kanya ng Viva Films ang project.
^Amoyo, Aster (September 12, 2019). "Empoy, Matteo sanib-puwersa sa 'Pedro Penduko'" [Empoy, Matteo to join forces in 'Pedro Penduko']. Abante Tonite (in Filipino and English). Retrieved August 15, 2023. Si Empoy umano ang gaganap sa normal na taong si Pedro Penduko na magta-transform into the character of Matteo kapag gumagana ang kanyang super power.
^Miralles, Nitz (February 26, 2020). "Catriona big hit sa Milan Fashion week" [Catriona a big hit at the Milan Fashion week]. Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved August 15, 2023. Nag-first acting workshop na si Matteo para sa Viva Films movie na Penduko, kahapon.
^Miralles, Nitz (March 2, 2020). "Pedro Penduko ni Matteo isasali sa MMFF". Balita (in Filipino). Retrieved August 15, 2023. ISA-SUBMIT ng Viva Films ang pelikulang Penduko ni Matteo Guidicelli sa 2020 Metro Manila Film Festival.
