DENNIS Trillo is heading to the international stage as he will lead the cast of the forthcoming series Severino. It will tell the story of priest Juan Severino Mallari who is also known as the first documented serial killer in the Philippines. 

International entertainment publication Variety mentioned the project in an exclusive story on Philippine-based production and financing company Fire and Ice.

Trillo shared a photo of the Variety article on his Instagram stories. He followed this with a screenshot of Mallari’s Wikipedia page where he placed a sticker saying “coming up next!”

Fire and Ice is working with Filipino content production company CreaZion studios on Severino, which is set for international distribution. 

Speaking to Variety, CreaZion Chief Creative Office Real Florido expressed his excitement about further expanding the reach of Philippine cinema. 

“Our goal is to be part of the wide-scale production of elevated Asian projects. With ‘Severino’ underway, one of the biggest series in the region, we are excited to continue diversifying and expanding our market potential by partnering with outward looking producers and projects,” said Florido.

CreaZion Studios is also involved in the film Last Shadow at First Light, a co-production with Protocol (Singapore), Fourier Films (Japan), and Studio Virc (Slovenia). 

It is the second feature film by Singaporean director Nicole Midori Woodford and is a supernatural arthouse drama that explores trauma and its aftermath. 

Trillo’s previous projects 

Trillo recently received international acclaim for his performance in the multi-awarded film On The Job: The Missing 8, which swept awards at the 78th Venice International Film Festival. 

In the movie, Trillo played the character of Roman Rubio, a prisoner who later becomes a hitman for people in power. 

Oscar-winning Korean director Bong Joon-ho commended Trillo’s performance. The director is part of the panel of judges for the festival. 

Who is Severino? 

Mallari is believed to have killed 57 people in the town of Magalang in Pampanga from 1816-1826. 

Mallari hails from Macabebe and became a parish priest after several rejections. He committed the killings supposedly because he wanted to cure his mother who he believed had been bewitched, according to reports quoting the work of historian and psychiatrist Dr. Luciano Santiago.

Santiago wrote about Mallari in his book Kapampangan Pioneers in the Philippine Church.