TV5 teases latest incarnation of ‘Ang Panday’
One of the most enduring movie and TV franchises is coming to TV5.
The latest incarnation of Carlo J. Ca par as ’“An gP an day” will premiere this year in the Happy Network. Panday is considered as one of the most iconic komiks creations along with Darna and Zuma.
First brought to life on the big screen by Fernando Poe, Jr., the original “Ang Panday” was the top grosser of the 1980 Metro Manila Film Festival and spawned three direct sequels that also starred the late, great King of Philippine Movies.
The series followed the adventures of Flavio, a blacksmith who gains superpowers after he forges the metal from a meteor that fell from the sky into a dagger. He then uses his powers to battle supernatural beings and its evil overlord, Lizardo.
Two more films, “Dugo ng Panday” in 1993 and “Hiwaga ng Panday” in 1998 starred Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada respectively as descendants of the original Flavio.
In 2009, the Panday franchise was rebooted by GMA Films starring Revilla as Flavio. Two films, “Ang Panday” and “Ang Panday 2,” were produced (2011) and shown again during the MMFF.
The franchise crossed over to TV beginning with an animated series produced by the now defunct RPN-9 in 1986. In 2005, it was revived by ABS-CBN as a live action teleserye starring Jericho Rosales and Heart Evangelista. This was followed by a spin-off called “Panday Kids,” which aired on GMA Network in 2010.
In the new TV5 series, the title role of Flavio will be played by Richard Gutierrez. The one-minute teaser directed by Randolph Longjas features a blacksmith who is slowly revealed to be Gutierrez forging a dagger that turns into a sword.