It’s a bold choice to remake a beloved Korean fantasy-romance for a local audience, and a bolder move still to cast two rising stars in roles once made iconic by K-Drama superstars Song Joong-ki and Park Bo-young. But“A Werewolf Boy,” which opens in cinemas today as the first Filipino film release of 2026, may just become a defining moment in the careers of Rabin Angeles and Angela Muji — not because they tried to mimic the original, but because they bring to the movie something entirely their own.
A poignant tale of devotion, the film marks the duo’s transition from rising Gen Z digital stars into full-fledged cinematic leads. Rabin plays Boy, the titular werewolf — a feral orphan who lives in isolation until a kind-hearted girl named Sara, portrayed by Angela, slowly draws him into her world. He has no dialogue in the entire film, relying solely on instinct, expression, and presence to connect with her and with the audience.
That kind of role demanded far more than memorizing lines. And for Rabin and Angela, stepping into this story meant learning how to trust, adapt to, and bring out the best in one another.
“When Rabin’s committed, he’s all in,” Angela toldThe T-Zone, recalling one shoot they had in a forest on cold, muddy ground. “He didn’t mind getting dirty or running barefoot, even when it hurt. He even carried me through the scene without complaining.”
She also recalled a moment that surprised even the crew: “In one scene, Rabin actually ate a raw sweet potato. It wasn’t a prop. He really bit into it — unpeeled and rock hard.”
To fully transform into Boy, Rabin immersed himself in physical training and character work that went beyond traditional preparation. “Our acting coach had me watch footage of wolves walking, eating and reacting to people — just moving through the world,” he explained. “For a full hour, I couldn’t take a break. I had to stay in character the entire time, down to the smallest gestures the animal would make.”
By the time the cameras rolled, something had clicked. “I wasn’t pretending anymore,” Rabin said. “I genuinely felt like a werewolf.”
Angela, who had the equally demanding task of reacting to someone who barely spoke, admitted the silence forced her to rely on deeper cues from Rabin. “It was harder for him because he couldn’t say anything,” she said. “But to do our scenes, his eyes helped. When we looked at each other, we already knew what the other was thinking.”
She even joked that she sometimes imagined him as a loyal pet — “parang (like a) pet dog,” she quipped — though she quickly circled back to the immense respect she has for Rabin’s total immersion in the role.
That kind of quiet, unspoken trust became the backbone of their performance. Without lines to fall back on, the pair leaned into nonverbal signals and subtle shifts, delivering scenes that were often silent but emotionally charged.
It’s the kind of connection that doesn’t need words to be felt. Clearly, the onscreen chemistry that began in Viva One’s youth-oriented shows, “Seducing Drake Palma”and deepened in“Ang Mutya ng Section E,”has now matured into something rawer and more resonant. While earlier projects showed them in flirtier, contemporary settings,A Werewolf Boystrips away modern distractions to focus on connection in its purest, most painful form.
In fact, Rabin said the role offered an unexpected kind of healing. “I used to be uncomfortable showing sadness,” he admitted. “But through this project, I realized there’s strength in being vulnerable.”
Angela, too, drew from a difficult place. “During the shoot, I was going through a lot,” she said. “I was being bashed online. I was so sad. But I poured everything I was feeling into Sara.”
Now, if vulnerability became Rabin and Angela’s greatest strength in making the film — like that of a werewolf to his mate — then loyalty may be what carries their pairing through 2026.
“It’s pinned in our minds — we’re manifesting that we’ll make it to the MMFF someday soon,” Rabin declared.
And it isn’t just about awards.
“My wish for Rabin this 2026,” Angela added, “is for him to win Best Actor for this movie.”
As for Rabin’s wish for Angela?
“Good health, more work, and hopefully, that we’ll still be together in more projects to come,” he said.
A Werewolf Boyopens today from Viva Films and is directed by Crisanto Aquino. It also stars Lorna Tolentino, Candy Pangilinan,Yayo Aguila,Jeffrey Hidalgo,Albie Casiño andRose Van Ginkel, among many others.