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| (Image Source: INQUIRER.net/YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment) |
ABS-CBN Corporation, the Philippines’ premiere media and entertainment company leading content provider, and Nippon TV, Japan’s leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse and ratings champion broadcaster, are partnering for the tenth adaptation of the hit Japanese TV drama “Mother” for Filipino audiences which will be known locally by its title “Saving Grace”. Slated to be shown across multiple platforms by 2025, the series will be top-billed by award-winning actress Julia Montes. “Mother” achieved award-winning success when it first aired on Nippon TV in 2010 and it is now Asia’s most exported scripted format. The well-loved series about love and motherhood spawned various critically-acclaimed adaptations in different countries – Turkey, South Korea, Ukraine, Thailand, China, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Mongolia. The Philippine version records a landmark tenth adaptation of the coveted script.
“We’re very, very happy and excited to announce ABS-CBN Studios’ newest Dreamscape production ‘Saving Grace'. This is the Philippine adaptation of ‘Mother’ that is created and produced by Nippon TV. This is our very first adaptation of a Nippon TV series and we are very grateful to Nippon TV for entrusting us with the rights for the Filipino version. It’s a beautiful story that really centers around the importance of family and motherhood and promises to be a very emotionally engaging and heartwarming series that will deeply resonate with the Filipino audience and the non-Filipino audiences worldwide,” shared ABS-CBN Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast Cory Vidanes. “As we celebrate our landmark tenth international deal for ‘Mother', we are delighted to be announcing this adaptation with ABS-CBN. ‘Mother’ is truly a beautiful story and we are confident that the Filipino audience is going to love it. Best wishes to the cast and crew,” said Nippon TV Content Business Heads Yuki Akehi and Sally Yamamoto. Presented by ABS-CBN Studios and produced by Dreamscape Entertainment, "Saving Grace" is based on the 2010 Japanese drama "Mother" which tells the story of an elementary school teacher (Julia) who discovers that one of her female students, named ‘Grace’ in the Philippine adaptation, has been abused by her mother, leading to a close and complex relationship between them but will eventually become complicated as the teacher's impulsively abduction of Grace for her sake turned into a national manhunt for the child.
Julia becomes the eleventh ‘mother’ to take on the pivotal role after the impressive portrayals of her counterparts from different countries. With Julia’s notable career achievements and compelling roles ranging across various genres, she now takes on another challenging character that will highlight a different facet of her artistry that aims to captivate audiences. For Julia, this project is close to her heart. “Minsan merong tao na tutulong sa’yo at ‘yun ang magbabago ng buhay mo," she hinted about the core of the story, adding that she was touched when the late Dreamscape Entertainment head Deo Endrinal last talked to her about this project, giving her all the more reasons to accept it as her comeback vehicle. Joining Julia in this gripping drama including Sam Milby, Janice de Belen, Jennica Garcia, Christian Bables, and the Megastar Sharon Cuneta. Jennica will be playing the young girl’s abusive mother while Christian takes on the role of her lover. Janice will portray a woman who becomes an ally and supporter of Julia’s character, and later in the story, a significant plot twist will be revealed about their characters. Meanwhile, Sharon will play the adoptive mother of Julia’s character, adding even more depth and emotion to the narrative.
Finally, playing the titular role of Grace who is set to captivate audiences and break their hearts as well is ABS-CBN's newest child wonder Zia Grace. Paired with the brilliant Julia Montes, Zia is poised to deliver a performance that will leave viewers deeply moved and emotionally invested. Zia, a commercial model, was chosen from a pool of aspiring child stars through a meticulous audition process. In an interview with “On Cue", Julia expressed her admiration for the young talent, describing Zia as beautiful, brilliant, and lovable.
