Lance Joseph Martinez

Meet the Filipino Stars of Hollywood’s First Filipino-Themed Animated Film 'Forgotten Island'

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Filipino mythology is finally taking center stage in Hollywood!DreamWorks Animation has officially dropped the trailer for its upcoming Filipino mythology-inspired animated film Forgotten Island, written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado.<div> </div><div style="text-align:left"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774511883831[image] - 6492786.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Forgotten Island&#x27;s official poster | Photo from @forgottenislandmovie</div><div style="text-align:left"> </div>The project marks a historic milestone as the first-ever Filipino-themed animated feature produced by a major Hollywood studio.Of course, the film wouldn’t be complete without Filipino stars lending their voices to its characters, including Liza Soberano, Lea Salonga, and Dolly de Leon. Completing the lineup are US-based Filipino talents H.E.R., Manny Jacinto, Jo Koy, and Amielynn Abellera.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a8RHqN93qfo?si=C5Hayu9BCnv-MQPA" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div><div> </div>Based on the trailer, Forgotten Island follows the story of lifelong best friends Jo and Raissa, who are on the verge of going their separate ways after high school. Their lives take an unexpected turn when they discover a mysterious portal that transports them to the “Forgotten Island,” a Philippine-inspired animated world where the longer they stay, the more their memories begin to fade.As we celebrate this historic first, let’s get to know the Filipino stars bringing their voices to Hollywood’s first Filipino-themed animated film, Forgotten Island, set to premiere on September 25, 2026.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Liza Soberano<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774512099654[image] - 2738351.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @lizasoberano</div><div style="text-align:left"> </div>Liza Soberano, who will voice Raissa, is a Filipino-American actress who first gained recognition for her supporting roles in teen dramas and comedies before moving on to lead roles in television and film.She has received several major awards, including a FAMAS Award, a PMPC Star Award, and six Box Office Entertainment Awards.Voice acting isn’t new for Liza, as she also lent her voice for the Filipino version of the anime-influenced animated series Trese. In 2022, she returned to California to pursue a Hollywood career and has since starred in the horror-comedy film Lisa Frankenstein.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">H.E.R. </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774512166375[image] - 6266268.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @hermusicofficial</div><div> </div>H.E.R., who will voice Jo, is an award-winning American R&amp;B singer-songwriter. She has earned an Academy Award, a Children’s and Family Emmy Award, and five Grammy Awards, along with nominations for a Golden Globe, three American Music Awards, and four Billboard Music Awards. Born Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson in Vallejo, California, to a Filipino mother and an African-American father, H.E.R. was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area.She has also ventured into voice acting, lending her voice to animated projects such as T. Rex in Blue’s Clues &amp; You! and Aliah in Bob’s Burgers in 2022.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Lea Salonga </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774512301157[image] - 9742588.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from @msleasalonga</div><div> </div>Lea Salonga, who will voice the Dreaded Manananggal—the most feared creature on the island—is one of the Philippines’ most celebrated performers.A global theater icon, she has headlined productions on Broadway and the West End, appeared on international television and film, and released several albums.Voice acting is familiar territory for Lea. She provided the singing voice of Jasmine in the 1992 animated musical Aladdin and of Fa Mulan in Mulan II (2004). She also voiced Yasuko Kusakabe in the English version of My Neighbor Totoro, and most recently contributed her voice to the critically acclaimed animated film KPop Demon Hunters.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Manny Jacinto<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774512362298[image] - 7250850.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo by Miles Diggs via @mannyjacinto</div><div> </div>Manny Jacinto is a Canadian actor best known for his breakout role as Jason Mendoza on the NBC sitcom The Good Place, where he played a deceased Filipino-American amateur DJ and former drug dealer from Jacksonville, Florida. His latest film was Freakier Friday, where he starred alongside Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis.Born in Manila, Philippines, Manny is of Filipino-Chinese descent. His family moved to Canada in 1990 when he was three years old, and he was raised in Richmond, British Columbia.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Dolly de Leon<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774512507099[image] - 9648383.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo by Sthanlee Mirador via @dollydeleon</div><div> </div>Dolly de Leon is best known for her work in independent films and theater, earning critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including a FAMAS Award, a Guldbagge Award, and a Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award, along with nominations for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award. Although primarily based in the Philippines, Dolly gained international recognition in 2022 for her role as a toilet cleaner on a luxury yacht in Ruben Östlund’s satirical black comedy Triangle of Sadness (2022).Dolly’s performance earned her the Guldbagge Award and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Performance, and she became the first Filipino to receive nominations for both a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Jo Koy</div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774512744884160604122_10159855875472590_5228198376964452002_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo from Jo Koy</div><div> </div>Born Joseph Glenn Herbert to a Filipina mother, Josie Harrison, and an American dad, John C. Herbert, who served in the Air Force in Japan, Jo Koy has carved a niche as one of the most well-known stand-up comedians today.He was a regular on E!’s Chelsea Lately and has released six comedy specials on Comedy Central and Netflix. In 2024, he even hosted the 81st Golden Globe Awards.Koy also brought his signature humor to the big screen in the 2022 Filipino-themed American film Easter Sunday, playing a struggling actor and single dad navigating the chaos of a loud and hilariously dysfunctional Filipino-American family during an unforgettable holiday gathering.<div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align:center">Amielynn Abellera</div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774512868205[image] - 734446.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/>Photo by Emily Sandifer via @ashleyceemakeup</div><div> </div>Filipino-American actress Amielynn Abellera is making her mark on stage, screen, and in voice acting. Hailing from Stockton, California, she earned a BS in Psychobiology from Santa Clara University before pursuing her MFA in Acting at the University of Southern California.Now based in Los Angeles, Amielynn has appeared in popular TV series such as The Pitt, The Cleaning Lady, Bosch: Legacy, and NCIS.<div> </div>Lead photo from @lizasoberano

Filipino mythology makes its Hollywood debut! Meet the Filipino stars lending their voices to "Forgotten Island," Hollywood’s first animated film centered on Filipino folklore, premiering September 25, 2026.

Filipino mythology makes its Hollywood debut! Meet the Filipino stars lending their voices to " Forgotten Island ," Hollywood’s first animated film centered on Filipino folklore, premiering September 25, 2026.

The Filipino Stars of Hollywood’s First Filipino-Themed Animated Film 'Forgotten Island'

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The Filipino Stars of Hollywood’s First Filipino-Themed Animated Film 'Forgotten Island'

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published March 26, 2026 04:40 PM PHT

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Forgotten Island

DreamWorks

Liza Soberano

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Lea Salonga

Manny Jacinto

Dolly De Leon

Filipino Mythology

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