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Maricel Soriano Joins Hollywood Rom-Com ‘Re-Live’

The Diamond Star makes her international film debut appearing alongside the rom-com’s co-writers, Rachel Leyco and Rain Valdez

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Renee Nuevo

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/19251154-27ab-4a09-9b72-d9111fc05af3_maricelsorianorelive_banner.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rain Valdez and Maricel Soriano are mother and daughter in &#x27;Re-Live: A Tale of an American Island Cheerleader&#x27;</span></span></span></div><p>Last year, <strong>Maricel Soriano</strong>—known lovingly to Filipino audiences as the Diamond Star (or Marya, if you’re a <em>fan</em> fan)—celebrated her 50th year in show business. </p><div><br/></div><p>The multi-awarded actress began her career as a child star, and soon grew to prominence when she starred alongside Nida Blanca and Dolphy in <em>John en Marsha</em>. From there, she solidified her status as a Filipino movie queen, appearing in over 100 films and becoming the recipient of multiple FAMAS Best Actress awards (nineteen, last we counted!).</p><div><br/></div><p>This week, <em>Variety</em> reported that the Diamond Star has been cast in the upcoming Hollywood rom-com, <em>Re-Live: A Tale of an American Island Cheerleader</em>, co-written by Rachel Leyco and Rain Valdez (<em>Transparent</em>, <em>Disclosure</em>, <em>Razor Tongue</em>).</p><div><br/></div><p>The film, according to <a href="https://variety.com/2022/film/news/maricel-soriano-rain-valdez-re-live-1235160219/" target="_blank">Variety</a>, tells the story of “Rowena, a transgender movie star who returns to her home in Guam for her high school reunion’s ‘do-over week.’ Rowena’s plan to live out her childhood dream of being a cheerleader falters when her mother’s cancer begins to worsen, and she learns to value the family she left behind.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Maricel is set to play Thelma, Rowena’s mother. </p><div><br/></div><p>The film’s co-writers have said of the Diamond Star: “Having a legendary Filipino actress like Maricel Soriano strengthens our commitment to telling our stories from our authentic experiences and for our Filipinx diaspora.” </p><div><br/></div><p>“Now more than ever,” Leyco and Valdez continue, “this empowers us to further highlight our communities at a time when visibility must be taken to new heights to fight against the rise of anti-trans and anti-Asian violence.”</p><div><br/></div><p><em>Re-Live</em> is set to begin shooting in November.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/people/celebrities/meryll-soriano-mmff-2019-culion/22458" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EXCLUSIVE: Meryll Soriano Highlights 3Cs In This Interview—&#x27;Culion&#x27; Film, Creativity, And Christmas </a></div>