Jake joins HBO Asia’s Halfworlds series

MANILA, Philippines - After his critically-acclaimed performance in Metro Manila, the 2013 widely-acclaimed film produced and directed by Briton Sean Ellis, Jake Macapagal (photo) is joining HBO Asia’s original fantasy series Halfworlds on its second season from Infinite Studios and Halo Productions.

According to sources who relayed this “breaking news” to The STAR, Halfworlds 2, helmed by Thai filmmaker Ekachai Uekrongtham (Beautiful Boxer, Skin Trade), widens the universe established in the first season, shifting from the back alleys of Jakarta, to the neon streets of Bangkok where a tenacious researcher named Juliet is trying to uncover the secret world of demons that live amongst us, while looking for an ancient artifact of great power.

Juliet is a new character on the series, replacing Sara (played by Indonesian actress Salvita Decorte in Season 1), described by a star2.com as “a street artist who finds herself getting closer to unveiling the clandestine connection between demons and humans.” Season 2, which will air before end of this year, is based on the Juliet character and her research on the secret world of demons.

Jake is among the Asian actors (also those from Thailand, Indonesia and Taiwan) tapped for Season 2, including Peem Jaiyen (Hormones 3), Tia Tavee (Asia’s Next Top Model 2), Emma Grant (The Idol Game), Myra Molloy (Thailand’s Got Talent), Nicole Theriault (Phobia 2), Jeeja Yanin (Chocolate), David Asavanond (The Last Executioner), Charlie Ruedpokanon (Only God Forgives) and Teresa Daley (Transformers: Age of Extinction, who also starred in HBO Asia’s Grace).

Reza Rahadian (Habibie & Ainun) and Arifin Putra (The Raid 2) reprise their roles as Tony and Barata.

Top: Jake Macapagal in a scene from Metro Manila, a straight-Tagalog movie produced by a British company (with Briton filmmaker Sean Ellis as director) which was UK’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film in the 2013 Oscars. Above: With Ellis (right) and Metro Manila co-star John Arcilla. The film was a winner at the Sundance Film Festival.

Jake was also an associate producer on Metro Manila (shot two weeks in Banaue and two weeks around Metro Manila), produced by a British company with straight-Tagalog dialogue, which was United Kingdom’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film in the 2013 Oscars. In the movie, Jake plays a farmer in search of the so-called greener pasture by working as a security guard in Metro Manila only to find himself in a tight situation that forced him to protect his family.  

More recently, Jake starred in Paolo Herras’ Buhay Habangbuhay for CineFilipino.

Romano “Jake” Macapagal started in theater. For several years, he toured with productions like Miss Saigon that earned him permanent status in Germany. Jake supported himself as a student in Sydney’s National Institute of Dramatic Arts in 2010, the same school where Australian actors Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush and the late Heath Ledger studied. He came home to resume his career.

Jake is currently in Bangkok shooting Halfworlds 2, part of which will also be shot in Indonesia.