Award-winning film Sunshine is set to be adapted for the stage, with Maris Racal reprising her lead role.
According to a report by Deadline, the upcoming stage production will offer an immersive experience for audiences.
The adaptation will be among the projects under director Antoinette Jadaone’s new production outfit, Ilaya Ilaya.
“When you’re watching a film, you’re there to just watch Sunshine make decisions,” Antoinette said.
“But what if Sunshine’s story was something you could hold and influence as an audience member?”
Directed by Antoinette, Sunshine won the Crystal Bear for Best Film in the Generation 14plus section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2025.
The film later premiered in Philippine cinemas in July of the same year.
Sunshine "follows a young gymnast who discovers she is pregnant on the week of the national team tryouts. On her way to a seller of illegal abortion drugs, she meets a mysterious girl who eerily talks and thinks like her," as per its IMDb.
Maris previously shared that she trained for a year to prepare for her role in the movie.
"I really pushed my limits and trained for it. Even though it was hard, I pushed," she relayed in a 2024 interview. "It was made through blood, sweat, and tears. We really worked hard. The script is from 2020. It made me very emotional because I trained for a year. I saw the movie, the trailer, and other things that were familiar to me. It's a great story."
READ: Maris Racal on new film ‘Sunshine’: ‘I’ve grown so much as an actress’
In an Instagram post in January 2024, Maris recalled immediately saying yes to the project when it was first offered to her in 2020. "Um-oo kaagad ako. Iyak ako nang iyak after ko mabasa ang script (at kahit na ilang ulit ko siyang basahin, iyak pa rin ako haha)," she shared.
Maris added that one of the reasons the film became especially meaningful to her was its message.
"Ito 'yung project na magiging proud ako na nagawa ko dahil sa sobrang ganda ng mensahe," she stated. "Forever kong babaunin ang natutunan ko dito."
Back in June, Maris won the Best Lead Performance of 2025 award at the 6th Pinoy Rebyu Awards presented by the Society of Filipino Film Reviewers for her performance in the film.