Atasha Muhlach wants to be good at playing the 'Bad Genius'

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After charming the audience with her hosting stint on "Eat Bulaga" and joining their family sitcom "Da Pers Family," Atasha Muhlach is now ready to carve her own path by leading Studio Viva's Philippine adaptation of "Bad Genius."

"I'm very excited but nervous because this is my first lead role," Muhlach declared at the show's official cast reveal event.

Originally a Thai blockbuster in 2017, "Bad Genius" follows a straight-A student who devises a high-stakes cheating scheme. The film became one of Thailand's most internationally successful movies, breaking box office records in several Asian countries.

Atasha Muhlach steps into the role of Lin, a brilliant high school student who earns a scholarship at one of the country’s top private schools. PHOTOS FROM VIVA ONE

Its 2020 series adaptation garnered multiple awards, including Best TV Drama Series and Best Screenplay. In 2023, India released its own version, "Farrey," while an American remake premiered last year.

Muhlach steps into the role of Lin, a brilliant high school student who earns a scholarship at one of the country's top private schools. Coming from a public school background, she struggles to adjust but refuses to be intimidated.

Determined to maintain her grades, she soon turns her academic excellence into a lucrative enterprise.

As this will be her first starring role, Muhlach promised she will do her best.

"When I first heard about it, I already knew that by accepting it, I would give my 100 percent. I don't have any expectations about the outcome, but as long as I can promise myself that I gave my 100 percent, then I'll be super happy with that."

Her preparations included script work, acting workshops, character analysis, and studying the original material and its adaptations. She also benefits from coaching and guidance from her parents, Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzales.

"We actually discussed it at home. They advised both me and Andres. And they're very excited and super supportive. If we have questions regarding the script or how to approach a certain sequence, they're more than happy to help, and for that, I'm so thankful," she said.

The highly anticipated series is directed by award-winning filmmaker Derick Cabrido, who was named Star Awards 2024 Movie Director of the Year for "Mallari" and won the International Film Fantasy Award 2020 Best Director for "Clarita."

Joining Muhlach (leftmost) in the local adaptation of ‘Bad Genius’ are (from left) Jairus Aquino, Hyacinth Callado and Gab Lagman.

Adapting such a widely acclaimed project came with challenges. Cabrido shared that when he was first offered the project, he took time to consider it carefully. Expectations were high, and he needed to find a way to make it his own while respecting the original material.

"This is different from what I usually do, so how will I make it my own?" he recalled asking himself. "You have to meet expectations and also differentiate it from what has been done before."

Once he accepted, Cabrido immediately immersed himself in collaboration, working closely with production design, costumes, cinematography, and music scoring. The cast also underwent extensive workshops to prepare for their roles and understand the material in depth.

Reflecting on the series' global success, Cabrido noted that "Bad Genius" is more than just pop culture entertainment. It delves into social commentaries on the education system, adding depth to its thrilling premise.

"These are the aspects we also wanted to inject, making the whole series not just entertaining but also thought-provoking," he said.

What sets the Filipino adaptation apart is its deeper exploration of each character's background. Cabrido pointed out that while the original film focused on the mechanics of the scheme, the series expands on the characters' personal lives.

"I'm so proud of Viva for this because their approach is different — we had to bring it to a Filipino audience with a Filipino flavor. Since we are family-oriented, we opened up parts of the series to explore each character's personality. Who are they outside of school? What are their relationships with their families? We went deeper, showing the other facets of why they are the way they are."

Muhlach leads a stellar cast alongside Jairus Aquino, Gab Lagman, and Hyacinth Callado, who are also part of Viva One's "University Series."

Aquino plays Bank, a top student who initially sees Lin as competition but joins her "business" due to financial struggles. Lagman portrays Pat, a privileged student whose wealth grants him access to the school despite his academic struggles; he becomes the networker for the scheme. Callado takes on the role of Grace, Pat's girlfriend and Lin's first friend, who seeks high grades to secure a spot in the school's theater group.

Rounding out the cast are seasoned actors Romnick Sarmenta and Yayo Aguila as Lin's parents, Vincent and Winona; Ruffa Gutierrez as the cold and calculating Principal Perez; Irma Adlawan as Bank's widowed mother, Nenita; and Joko Diaz as Pat's wealthy father, Philip. Keagan de Jesus, Alex Payan, and Gold Aceron play Lin's first clients in the scheme.

"Bad Genius: The Series" will stream soon on Viva One.