TBA Studios has unveiled the worldwide release strategy for “Quezon,” a historical biopic chronicling the political ascent of Manuel L. Quezon, the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth. The film stars Filipino actor Jericho Rosales in the title role alongside “Game of Thrones” alumnus Iain Glen.
ABS-CBN International has secured exclusive theatrical distribution rights for key overseas territories after TBA Studios fielded interest from multiple international distributors.
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The Philippines will see the film first on Oct. 15, followed by Australia and New Zealand on Oct. 30. North American audiences, including those in Guam and Canada, will get their first look on Oct. 31, with Middle Eastern territories scheduled for Nov. 20. Additional international markets are expected to be revealed.
Set during the twilight of American colonial rule, the film traces Quezon’s calculated path to victory in the 1935 presidential elections, depicting his confrontations with American Governor-General Leonard Wood (played by Glen), political rival Sergio Osmeña, and revolutionary leader Emilio Aguinaldo.
The ensemble cast features Benjamin Alves as the young Quezon, Mon Confiado as Aguinaldo, Arron Villaflor and Cris Villanueva as Joven Hernando, and Romnick Sarmenta as Osmeña. Karylle portrays Aurora Quezon, with supporting performances from JC Santos, Jake Macapagal, Bodjie Pascua, Angeli Bayani, Jojit Lorenzo, Joross Gamboa, Therese Malvar, Ana Abad Santos, Ketchup Eusebio, and Nico Locco.
“We’re thrilled that ‘Quezon’ will finally be seen by Filipinos around the world – and not just by the Filipino community, but also by fans of historical and political cinema,” said producer Daphne Chiu-Soon. “This is a world-class production made for the big screen, and we’re proud to share this important story with a global audience.”
Directed by Jerrold Tarog, “Quezon” completes TBA Studios’ “Bayaniverse” trilogy of Philippine historical films. The series began with 2015’s “Heneral Luna,” which became the highest-grossing historical film in Philippine box office history, and continued with 2018’s “Goyo: The Young General.”
The production received support from the Film Development Council of the Philippines and CreatePHFilms.
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