With the recent announcement of his two new big screen projects this year, Daniel Padilla said he is looking forward to doing movies again.

“I’m very excited. It’s been a while. Itong mga proyektong gagawin natin ngayon is handpicked. And hindi lang handpicked, nakita nila yung gusto ko gawin. Siguro alam na rin nila yung gusto ko gawin. Now is the perfect time,” he shared during his press conference held last April 25 inside the ABS-CBN compound. 

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The 28-year-old kapamilya actor shared that he is ready to do more diverse roles and solo projects, even though it does not mean he is totally saying goodbye to his matinee idol image.

“Yung iba kasi gasgas na gasgas na (laughs). I mean, hindi naman sa masama yun. I have mga projects naman na it worked out at gumana. Ngayon, iba lang yung timpla. Siyempre looking back sa mga ginawa ko, ang daming mga memories sa mga eksena, ang daming bumabalik lang. Na-miss ko rin si direk Cathy (Garcia-Molina),” he explained. 

The first movie project lined up for DJ is a suspense thriller titled The Guest which will be helmed by the director behind blockbuster films like Heneral Luna and Goyo.

“Ito yung isang project na gagawin natin. Siyempre directed by sir Jerrold Tarog. I’m so very happy and very honored na ang makakasama ko dito ay si sir John Arcilla. Nung nag-be-brainstorm kami ng mga project na gagawin namin, pinag-usapan namin kung sino ang director na bagay sa ganitong feel ng pelikula. Maraming mga puwede kinonsider pero may director na nasa puso niya ang kadiliman,” he said.

READ: Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo share their couple goals for 2023

DJ also revealed his feelings about doing a very different kind of film which allows him the opportunity to work alongside award-winning actors like John Arcilla.

“I’m a fan of thrillers and suspense, yung mind f**k. Matagal na akong fan nun, so matagal na rin akong naghahanap nito. Gusto ko lang din magpasalamat kay sir John na pumayag siyang gawin itong film na ito kasi napakahusay niya na aktor and he just pushes you to do better pa. Thank you, sir John, for accepting the project,” he added.

The Guest is set to start shooting later this year and will be released in 2024.

During his New Movie Alert event, it was confirmed that the second film he is set to star in is the big screen adaptation of award-winning writer Ricky Lee’s short story Nang Mapagod si Kamatayan. 

READ: Kathryn Bernardo and Dolly De Leon set to star in Star Cinema’s ‘A Very Good Girl’

Last seen in film in 2021’s Kun Maupay Man It Panahon, DJ has received has received Best Actor nominations from the FAMAS awards in 2019 and 2022. He has also previously won the 2017 FAMAS Best Actor award for his 2016 film Barcelona: A Love Untold. 

His reel-and real love team partner Kathryn Bernardo announced last March that she is set to do her comeback project with Star Cinema with the film A Very Good Girl with Dolly de Leon scheduled for this year.