FILMART 2024: ABS-CBN looks for co-production partners and pre-sales for "The Bagman"

Philippines giant ABS-CBN is heading to this year’s FILMART to actively seek co-production partners and pre-sales for its action-packed drama series "The Bagman" (8 x one-hour), a spin-off of the original locally produced digital series "Bagman" for the Filipino audience.

"The Bagman" is produced by Philippine-based companies - ABS-CBN International Productions Division, Nathan Studios Inc., Rein Entertainment and Dreamscape Entertainment.

“ABS-CBN’s track record as a storyteller and content creator is one of our key assets that makes us a solid partner in international co-productions, as seen in our growing slate of global titles. As a pioneer and leader in globalizing Filipino content, we are pleased to be offering 'The Bagman' at this year’s FILMART as it further strengthens our position in advocating for Filipino representation in today’s global marketplace. With the phenomenal cast now complete, coupled with the recent start of production, we have no doubt 'The Bagman' will be a hit among buyers and co-pro companies in Hong Kong,” commented Ruel S. Bayani, Head, International Productions Division, ABS-CBN, who will be attending FILMART along with Tanya Bautista, Creative Producer for The Bagman, and Lea Dizon, ABS-CBN’s LA-based development executive.

"The Bagman" stars Arjo Atayde, reprising his character Benjo Malaya from the original Bagman series, as well as John Arcilla ("The Bourne Legacy"), and Judy Ann Santos ("Mindanao"). The original digital series, "Bagman" 1 and 2, which sold to Netflix Philippines, follows the story of Benjo Malaya, a neighborhood barber who landed a job as the governor's henchman and gets caught up in a dangerous web of crime, corruption, and political turmoil. Now with "The Bagman", when convicted prisoner and former governor, Benjo Malaya, learns the tragic news about his missing family, he is left with no choice but to return to the vicious underworld that he turned his back on, and take on a new mission, this time, as a Bagman for the sitting president of the Republic of the Philippines to stop an impending civil war.