A TV series based on the ongoing comic book series Dreamwalker has officially been announced.
In addition, it’s currently aiming to start production in mid-2023.
Dreamwalker was created by Filipino American writer and journalist Mikey Sutton with his Manila-based artistic director Noel Layon Flores.
The comic book reached the top of the local Filipino comics charts.
The upcoming TV adaptation will be produced by 108 Media.
2022’s ContentAsia Award for Best Director winner Treb Monteras II will serve as showrunner.
Mikhail Red who’s just coming off his mega box-office blockbuster “Deleter” will be the series director.
Plus LA-based genre maven Kaitlyn Fae Fajilan has been hired as the head writer.
The story centres around a young Filipino vlogger named Kat.
The story begins with Kat returning home to the Philippines under mysterious circumstances.
Upon her return, she finds herself as the sole survivor of a horrific bus crash.
Emerging from the wreckage, Kat discovers she now possesses strange new powers.
She now has the incredible ability to enter the dreams of other people.
Furthermore she is able to extract various items from the dreams she enters and bring them into the real world.
Including mystical weapons with power beyond our imagination.
For a limited time she uses these paranormal weapons to fight against supernatural creatures ripped straight from Filipino folklore.
Creator and writer Mikey Sutton modelled the character after actress Kate Valdez who stars in the GMA drama series, Onanay.
In an official press release from 108 Media, Sutton said:
“I randomly discovered Kate Valdez in 2018 while recovering from a near-fatal stroke. I saw her on the GMA drama, Onanay, and her emotionally rich performance and timeless beauty made me declare her the Next Big Thing. I modelled and named Dreamwalker after her.”
Sutton also expressed his excitement on working with 108 Media to bring his creation to the screen.
He said:
“I am also thrilled and honoured to work with 108 Media. They've been incredibly supportive and wonderful to me. They've chosen a top-notch crew to put this project together.”
Moreover, it’s also been confirmed that Kate Valdez herself will star as aspiring heroine in the upcoming series.
The actress was already a fan of the comic book before finding out about the TV adaptation.
Nonetheless, Valdez revealed that she was in disbelief when she was offered the role, she said:
“When Mikey told me that Dreamwalker would become a TV series and that I was chosen to be the one who will also portray Kat on screen, I was pinching myself because I had no expectations that I would be able to extend my role into a medium that I’m so passionate about in my life. I’m honestly so excited, nervous, and grateful to Mikey and everyone in the project for believing in me to do this major TV project for the Philippines so global audiences can be more exposed to our culture and stories.”
Seeing the potential of the series as a new touchpoint for Southeast Asian genre fare, executive producer Justin Deimen says:
“The moment we heard about the concept, we knew how far this could travel. The project will be a focal point for Filipino talent across the globe and delivers cultural storytelling in a fresh and commercial way to young adult audiences locally and internationally. Mikey and Noel’s concept coupled with Treb and Mik’s vision and Kaitlyn’s scripts blends fantasy, horror, humour, and high-end action in a way never seen before in regional television.”
Showrunner Treb Monteras II, was particularly struck by the series’ potential to showcase a new aesthetic style and tone.
He explained:
“The goal is to create an original mind-blowing and visually dynamic series that dives deep into the horrors in our dreams vs. the horrors of our world. We will utilize different mediums and techniques to create breath-taking designs that capture Philippine folklore's intricate universe.”
Superhero shows like The Boys and Invincible have managed to dominate the small screen.
There’s a strong chance that this new series could do the same.