Lea Salonga, prangkahang nagsalita ukol sa box-office performance ng 'Forgotten Island'
- Lea Salonga shared her thoughts on the box-office performance of “Forgotten Island”
- In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, she explained why she still considers the DreamWorks Animation film a win
- She emphasized the importance of introducing Filipino mythology to international audiences
- Lea also highlighted the film's strong opening weekend in the Philippines
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Lea Salonga remains proud of “Forgotten Island” despite its modest box-office earnings, emphasizing that the animated film has already made a meaningful contribution by bringing Filipino mythology to a global audience. The Broadway star voiced the fearsome manananggal in the DreamWorks Animation fantasy adventure.
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In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, Lea explained that the film's value should not be measured by its theatrical earnings alone. She believes that introducing Filipino folklore to viewers around the world is already a significant achievement.
According to Box Office Mojo, “Forgotten Island” has earned approximately $50.2 million worldwide, consisting of $30.3 million in North America and $19.9 million from international markets. The film reportedly had a production budget of $80 million.
Lea admitted that she did not have specific expectations regarding the movie's commercial performance. She also pointed out that a film's box-office results should not automatically determine whether it deserves to be considered a failure.
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“Just because something has been perceived to not do so great at the box office, all of a sudden, it's a flop.”
The actress further reflected on the fact that the project was approved and brought to life by DreamWorks Animation despite the uncertainties surrounding its potential earnings.
“For me, it's like, this movie got made. This movie got green-lit. And, you know, DreamWorks could have said, ‘This is not gonna make money,’ hence we will not green-light this. But they still did.”
For Lea, the opportunity to showcase stories inspired by different cultures is one of the film's most important accomplishments. She believes that original narratives set in various parts of the world can help audiences recognize the similarities they share despite their different backgrounds.
“There is going to be a segment of the public that will want to see original stories that are set in different parts of the world. And have the wider audience realize that we are not also different from one another, in our dreams and aspirations and our hopes.”
She also highlighted how the animated adventure introduces international viewers to mythical creatures that have long been part of Filipino culture, including the manananggal and the tiyanak.
“We got to share our mythology with the world. I still count that as a win.”
Lea also noted that the film's international theatrical release was still ongoing, suggesting that its overall performance should be assessed beyond its initial North American earnings. She explained that movie studios can also generate income from other distribution channels, including streaming platforms and home-video sales.
The singer and actress likewise pointed to the film's reception in the Philippines, where audiences showed considerable interest through block screenings and private theater screenings organized for viewing parties.
“Forgotten Island” earned P97.2 million during its opening weekend in the Philippines, setting a record for the biggest opening weekend for a DreamWorks Animation movie in the country, according to ABS-CBN News.
Lea compared the film's impressive local performance to the box-office appeal of the late Filipino action star Fernando Poe Jr., widely known as FPJ.
“I'm like, those are FPJ-level numbers.”
Aside from its commercial performance in the Philippines, the film has also received positive reviews from critics. It earned a 95% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, further highlighting the favorable response it has received from reviewers.
Despite the mixed box-office results in other markets, Lea remains hopeful that more people will eventually discover the animated film and appreciate the Filipino mythology woven into its story.
“As long as people go eventually or find it eventually, then it's still a win because now people know what a manananggal is. It used to be just our people, but now other people know what that's about and how terrifying it is.”
For Lea, the film's lasting value lies in allowing Filipino folklore to reach beyond the country's borders and introducing these distinctive cultural stories to a much wider audience.
Lea Salonga stands as a legendary global icon renowned for her breathtaking vocal talent and historic theater achievements. She captured international stardom by originating the role of Kim in “Miss Saigon,” securing a Tony Award as the first Asian woman to win the honor, and later shining as Éponine in “Les Misérables.” Her timeless legacy also includes voicing Disney princesses Jasmine and Mulan.
Lea made history as the first Filipina to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was honored with the 2,855th star in the Live Performance category for her decades-long contributions to theater, film, and music. Fellow artists Brandy, Ming-Na Wen, Darren Criss, and H.E.R. attended the Hollywood ceremony to celebrate her achievement.
Previously, Lea addressed a supporter's question about unfollowing BTS members RM and J-Hope on Instagram after they were seen with Chris Brown. She explained that the decision was made for her personal peace of mind, adding that artists and fans alike have the freedom to make their own choices and set boundaries. Despite unfollowing the two members, she emphasized that she still appreciates the K-pop group.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
