ABS-CBN, Netflix to collaborate on 'It's Okay To Not Be Okay' Philippine adaptation

MANILA, Philippines — Fresh off the success of "Can't Buy Me Love," ABS-CBN and Netflix will collaborate yet again for the Philippine adaptation of "It's Okay To Not Be Okay."

This will be the first time the hit Korean show from 2020 will be adapted, said Star Creatives Creative Head Henry King Quitain, who will oversee the production of the show.

Assisting him in the director's chair is "Rewind" director Mae Cruz-Alviar, who just oversaw the completion of "Can't Buy Me Love," starring Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano.

As previously announced, starring in the Filipino adaptation of "It's Okay To Not Be Okay" are Anne Curtis in her first teleserye headliner in a decade, Joshua Garcia and Carlo Aquino.

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Anne will portray Emilia "Mia" Hernandez, a children's book author with an antisocial personality disorder, while Joshua and Carlo will portray the Gonzales brothers, Patrick and Matthew. The former is a caregiver in a psychiatric hospital, while the latter is an aspiring illustrator with autism.

Quitain assured that illustrations and animation will play a huge part in the adaptation, much like the original show. He also shared that ABS-CBN was given the green light to make some changes so that the adaptation will be distinctly Filipino.

The filmmaker also said they were eyeing to shoot in Iloilo or the island of Negros because of the presence of colonial heritage houses, which could play another part in the storytelling.

Because the series involves matters regarding mental health, the cast will undergo group and individual immersions to understand how to portray or be around people with mental health issues.

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