Written by: Jerome P. Villanueva of Voltes V The Documentary
Published on: February 13, 2021 at 1:13 AM PHT (GMT+8)
Philippine broadcast giant GMA Network has revealed the stars who will portray Boazania’s Earth Conquest leader Prince Zardoz and his ally, the biogenetics scientist Zandra in the historic live action series titled “Voltes V: Legacy”.
Martin del Rosario will play Prince Zardoz and Liezel Lopez will portray Zandra, according to a report from 24 Oras, GMA’s flagship newscast.
GMA has acquired the rights to air a live action remake of the 1977 mecha series “Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V,” a property of Japanese media conglomerate Toei Company, Ltd. The rights acquisition of GMA was facilitated through Toei’s Philippine licensing agent Telesuccess Productions, Inc.
Del Rosario, who will play Prince Zardoz, said this is his biggest break.
“Nu’ng nakuha ko ito siyempre 'yung puso ko talaga kumabog nang kumabog nang malakas kasi alam ko kung gaano kalaki ang project na ‘to. Andaming good roles na dumating na sa akin sa TV, sa movie, pero kino-consider ko ‘tong si Prince Zardoz ang biggest break, (The time I got the role my heart gone beating wild because I know how big this project is. There are good roles that came to me on TV, on movies, but I consider this character Prince Zardoz as the biggest break.)” del Rosario said.
He revealed cast members were doing script reading sessions during the lockdown period.
Script reading is a preproduction technique where cast members read through the scripts together to familiarize on their assigned roles.
“Nagpapaganda ako ng katawan to gain confidence kasi si Zardoz very confident, powerful, basta ang taas ng tingin niya sa sarili niya so siguro malaki 'yung magagawa na maganda ‘yung physique ko para mas madaling mapasok ‘yung sarili ko sa character ni Zardoz, (I'm working on my built to gain confidense because Zardoz is very confident, powerful, and he looked to himself up, so I think my physique is a big impact for me to portray the character of Zardoz well.)" del Rosario said. Del Rosario’s actual audition piece was shown on the TV report.
Del Rosario is a contract artist under GMA Artist Center. He started his showbiz career in 2007.
He received the following awards: Breakthrough Performance by An Actor of Entertainment Press Society (2011), New Movie Actor of the Year of Philippine Movie Press Club (2014), Best Supporting Actor in Gawad Urian Awards (2014), Best Actor in the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (2019), and Best Leading Male Digital Performance in 24th Asian Television Awards (2020).
Zardoz is the supreme commander for the Earth Invasion Forces of Boazanian Star Empire.
According to the book “Voltes V: Declassified,” Zardoz graduated at the top of his class in Boazania’s military school.
“He hopes to redeem his family’s honor by accomplishing [the Earth Conquest] mission given to him. Fiercely loyal to the emperor and to Boazania, Zardoz refuses to believe that there is a plot to discredit him by none other than the emperor himself,” the book stated.
Meanwhile, Lopez, who will play Zandra, said her character is not the usual antagonist.
“Nu’ng nag-audition po ako hindi siya 'yung usual na kontrabida na like strong, I focused on the love for Zardoz and I think maybe that's the reason kung bakit ako 'yung napili, (When I auditioned, she (Zandra) was not the usual antagonist who is strong, I focused on the love for Zardoz and I think maybe that's the reason why I was chosen.)” Lopez said.
Lopez is also skilled in fighting. She is currently undergoing sword training, boxing and arnis training. "Oh my god, akala niyo po madali lang 'yan mabigat siya kapag matagal and also nae-excite ako sa fight scenes namin. I think mas na-excite ako kasi unearthy siya eh. Hindi siya ‘yung usual na nakikita mong fight so I think it’s gonna be exciting talaga. (Oh my god, you think that is easy but no, it's very heavy when carried for a long time and also I was very excited in our fight scenes. I think I got excited because it is unearthy, it is not the usual fight you're seeing so I think it's gonna be really exciting.)"
Lopez is a product of GMA’s talent search Starstruck. She worked in many GMA projects namely: Tsuperhero, Alyas Robinhood, Super Maám, among others.
In the anime series, Zandra is the sole female ally of Zardoz’s Earth Invasion Force.
According to the “Voltes V: Declassified” book, “Zandra is also in charge of creating beast fighters along with Zuhl and later with Oslak. A bio-geneticist of the various wildlife of Earth on which she bases her beast fighter creations.”
GMA has also revealed this week the five pilots of Voltes V namely Miguel Tanfelix as Steve Armstrong, Radson Flores as Mark Gordon, Matt Lozano as Big Bert Armstrong, Raphael Landicho as Little Jon Armstrong and Ysabel Ortega as Jamie Ortega.
“Voltes V Legacy” is a live action series produced by GMA Entertainment and licensed by Toei and Telesuccess .
The show’s CGI is handled by the post production house Riot Inc. and GMA’s video graphics arm, GMA Post. The network assured that all of the scripts, characters and creation of the Boazanian language have undergone review and approval by Toei prior final production.
“Voltes V: Legacy” is a live action remake to the classic 1977 anime mecha series titled “Chōdenji Machine Voltes V” (超電磁マシーン ボルテスV).
The Voltes V: Legacy is set to being broadcasting in 2022.
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