‘Bayaniverse presents: Quezon biopic

PRODUCTION company TBA Studios once again moves forward by looking back, gearing up to shoot its latest historical film Quezon, which explores the life of former Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon. 

Quezon will be an expansion to the ‘Bayaniverse’ — a cinematic universe conjured by the studio that includes period pieces like Heneral Luna (2015) and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral (2018), both directed and written by Jerrold Tarog. 

Both these films were considered box-office hits, and have received positive acclaim from 

critics and audiences alike. 

Filming for Quezon is expected to start in March 2025, with a target theatrical release later this year. 

According to TBA Studios President and COO Daphne Chiu, Quezon will be released both locally and internationally as a stand-alone. This means that the film can be enjoyed and understood on its own, without needing prior knowledge of the first two movies.

It will follow the life of Manuel L. Quezon, a Filipino lawyer and soldier who became widely known as the President of the Philippines during the Commonwealth era from 1935 – 1944. 

The studio has yet to announce who would play Quezon in the film, but in the previous ‘Bayaniverse’, Quezon was played by different actors: Benjamin Alves in Heneral Luna, and TJ Trinidad in Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral. 

Raymond Bagatsing was the most recent, with his portrayal of the president in the 2018 biopic, Quezon’s Game. 

It is expected to focus on Quezon’s tumultuous campaign against then-President Emilio Aguinaldo, another key figure in Philippine history, especially during the revolution against the Spaniards.

Tarog is set to return and direct the said film, adding to more excitement from the audience. 

The film has the backing of the Philippine government agencies, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), with the latter announcing financial support for the project last year. 

This collaboration is a significant effort that reflects the aim to elevate and promote the local film industry by creation and production of world-class cinema.