MANILA -- A new film starring former "love team" Piolo Pascual and Claudine Barretto is in the works, the actress' camp said, as she remains embroiled in a legal feud involving her family.
According to her legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Barretto is gearing up for her first co-starring project with Pascual since 2004, when their last film together, "Milan," was released.
"I believe may movie siya with Piolo Pascual. Kausap ko si Boss Vic (del Rosario, Viva Films founder) eh... Actually Boss Vic wants me to fix everything para makapag-shooting na sila," the lawyer told ABS-CBN News on Thursday, referring to the actress' court battlewith husband Raymart Santiago.
The 34-year-old Barretto, who first announced her back-to-back film projects in July, is under the management of del Rosario's Viva Artists Agency.
According to the actress, both her comeback movies will be under Viva Films. One of them, she added, will be a co-production with ABS-CBN's film arm, Star Cinema.
Pascual, who is an exclusive talent of ABS-CBN, on Friday expressed excitement over working anew with Barretto. He is unsure, however, when the project will start, saying it is up to the management of Star Cinema.
"Si Tita Malou (Santos, Star Cinema Managing Director) lang makakasagot no'n, but of course Clau has been a good friend of mine and I hope one of these days, pag nagtugma na 'yung [schedule] namin, magawa namin. I'm very excited for it.
"Clau will always be one of the closest friends in showbiz na talagang tumulong sa akin and anytime," the 36-year-old actor told ABS-CBN News shortly after a bloggers conference for his upcoming film, "OTJ."
While Pascual brought up factors which may determine whether the project will push through, he said he is more than willing to co-star with Barretto again.
"Depende sa schedule namin, depende sa schedule niya, depende kay Tita Malou. But yeah, of course sabi ko kay Tita Malou, 'Oo naman,'" said Pascual, who is currently filming a Star Cinema movie with actress Toni Gonzaga and director Olivia Lamasan.
Asked if he is still in touch with Barretto, Pascual said, "Wala pa lately. Nakikita ko lang siya sa news, pero hindi ko siya nakakausap."
Barretto and Santiago are in a custody battle over their two children, after the actress accused her husband of "physical, verbal, psychological, and even economical" abuse.
Of the controversial tiff between the couple, Pascual said, "Syempre prayers lang. Lahat naman nadadaan sa dasal. But I don't think I'm in the position to comment about it."
