Metro Manila Film Festival recently revealed the first four films to be showcased later this year. These films are A Mother and Son’s Story, K(Ampon), Rewind, and Penduko. While all these films have the potential to be interesting, Penduko in particular has some people excited. 

Penduko originated as a komik in 1954, with the character, Pedro Penduko, going on adventures and encountering different Filipino folklore creatures. Though it has been adapted into many TV shows and films, many years have passed since Penduko was on screens. 

But things are different now.

Since then, comic book films have exploded in popularity, with the advent and continuing success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its DC equivalent. On top of that, many fans of the past Pedro Penduko adaptations are older, so a modern adaptation with a potentially mature tone may be an interesting angle for the hero’s story. 

The success of this film could also lead to more Filipino komiks being adapted into shows and films. Funnily enough, Matt Evan’s take on Pedro Penduko made a cameo on an episode of ABS-CBN’s Super Inggo back in 2007, and such appearances are now standard for many superhero movies. While a full-blown Penduko Cinematic Universe is definitely farfetched, there’s no shortage of komiks heroes that could do really well with modern adaptations, like Joaquin Bardado or Panday. 

Conversely, recent discourse surrounding superhero films suggests that this adaptation could be doomed to fail. Many audiences are suffering from “Marvel fatigue”, as Disney releases movies and shows with little time in between, with no signs of stopping. Bad CGI also seems to be a trend with these recent productions, as VFX artists are being overworked to meet the unrealistic expectations of the studios. 

Many factors are at play in regards to the success and reception of Penduko, but there isn’t enough information on the film to predict whether or not it will do well. Still, there’s a lot to be hopeful for, as Filipino original stories should always have their share of the spotlight in cinemas and TV screens.