ABS-CBN Seeks Co-Pro & Presale Partners for The Bagman

ABS-CBN is gearing up for FILMART, where it will be looking for co-production partners and presales for the drama The Bagman.

The 8×1-hour The Bagman is a spin-off of the original Filipino-produced digital series Bagman. Arjo Atayde stars, reprising the character Benjo Malaya from the original series.

The series also stars John Arcilla (On The Job 2: The Missing 8, The Bourne Legacy) and Judy Ann Santos (Mindanao, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano).

Principal photography started on February 25 in Manila.

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.

Ruel S. Bayani, head of the international productions division at ABS-CBN, said: “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.”