La Luna Sangre was supposed to air before Pangako Sa 'Yo and other revelations

La Luna Sangre serves as the continuation of Lobo (2008) and Imortal (2010).

The new teleserye includes two love teams that created a phenomenon on Philippine TV and cinema.

La Luna Sangre is topbilled by Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo, whose love team goes by the collective name of KathNiel. They starred in three top-rating teleseryes and eight movies, which are all considered box-office hits.

Angel Locsin and Richard Gutierrez are reunited 10 years after their last project together. The ChardGel tandem topbilled the successful GMA-7 fantasy series Mulawin and seven movies.

When asked about topbilling the show, the young stars admitted they were excited to get the offer to continue the Lobo and Imortal franchise.

However, Kathryn revealed that it took years before the project finally pushed through. In fact, this was supposed to come after their series Got To Believe, which ended in 2014.

She said, "More than the kaba, sobrang tagal talaga naming inantay [ito] ni DJ. Kasi gagawin dapat siya after ng Got To Believe tapos na-adjust siya ng na-adjust.

"Feeling namin, perfect talaga this year na gawin siya kasi sa age namin, mas ready kami. More on excitement yung napifeel ko sa project."

After Got To Believe, KathNiel topbilled Pangako Sa 'Yo that aired in 2015.

Kathryn Bernardo plays Malia, the daughter of Mateo (John Lloyd) and Lia (Angel).

In Imortal, it is known that Mateo is a vampire while Lia is a werewolf, but what about Kathryn's character?

Direk Cathy Garcia-Molina, who helms the series, only teased, "Hindi pa natin alam!"

Daniel plays Tristan, a jeepney driver who bears hatred towards vampires after witnessing how they killed his father, played by Romnick Sarmienta.

He shared, "Bad trip siya sa bampira, nakita niyang pinatay yung tatay niya. Growing up, naniniwala siya sa bampira at gusto niyang patayin yung mga bampira."

According to Daniel, he enjoyed taping his fight scenes for the series, which were usually done in the streets of Quiapo. In fact, he talked about this with his uncle Robin Padilla, who has done several action movies.

"Kinukwento ko nga sa tito ko na nagshoot ako sa Quiapo ng mga fight scenes, sobrang naenjoy ko.

"Yung mga fight scenes, mga choreo, dahil siyempre ibang experience, e. Tapos pag nagagawa mo ng tuluy-tuloy, sobrang sarap gawin, e. Tapos kasama mo mga tao sa Quiapo, mga jeprox, makikilala mo lahat ng uri ng mga tao."

During the press conference, Kathryn and Daniel shared cute moments together: holding each other's hands, having short conversations in the sidelights.

The two were asked: what if Kathryn's character becomes a vampire and has to bite Daniel's neck for a scene, would they be willing to do it?

Kathryn answered, "Oo naman."

Laughing, Daniel also responded, "Kung may eksenang kakagatin ako? Oo!"

Angel Locsin will reprise her Imortal role in the pilot week as Lia, the mother of Malia who is the former punong-bantay of the Wayas or the good werewolves.

According to Angel, who topbilled both Lobo (with Piolo Pascual) and Imortal (with John Lloyd Cruz), she is happy to pass on the throne to the KathNiel love team.

She told the press, "Masaya po ako kasi iba yung happiness ko na na-appreciate ng mga tao yung mga pinaghirapan namin nila Direk Cathy noon, nila Piolo, nila Lloydie, tapos gagawin ngayon ng mga bigating artista ng henerasyon natin.

"I'm very honored and thankful na parang in a way, nakakapagbigay din ng tibute sa amin. So when they asked me kung okay yung ba sa 'kin yung pag-appear dito. Sabi ko yes, tutulong ako at susuporta ako diyan kasi mahal na mahal ko yung proyektong yun."

Angel also shared that the new generation of stars are lucky that they were able to undergo training for martial arts before doing the series. "Wala naman po kasi kaming training noon, e. Wala kaming ganong luxury before pero yung mga baril baril kela Papa P. Ngayon po, iningatan talaga nila ako ng bonggang bongga!"

According to Direk Cathy, Angel insisted on doing her own stunts for La Luna Sangre.

She revealed, "Palo nga ito, e! Kasi alam naman po natin na meron siyang diperensya sa likod na inayos, di ba? So inaalagaan natin na huwag nang bumalik.

"So ako naman, huwag na po sanang gawin 'yan, ay ang tigas ng ulo, pinapadouble-an ko na, ayaw! Ako na lang 'yan, Direk. E, double na lang, baka mawalan kami ng Angel Locsin!

"Ayaw niya po, siya po ang gumagawa. Alam niyo naman po si Angel, if she can do it, she really will. So yung mga action scenes niya, siya po ang gumawa.

Why did Angel insist to do her own stunts? The actress answered, "Kung director ko nga po, ginagawa niya muna bago ipagawa sa artista niya, ba't hindi ko ho gagawin yung trabaho ko."

John Lloyd Cruz, who was not present during the grand press conference, will reprise his role in Imortal as Mateo, the vampire husband of Lia and the father of Malia.

For his first Kapamilya series, Richard Gutierrez plays Sandrino, the supreme vampire and the son of Magnus, played by Jake Roxas.

However, Richard said that Sandrino is unlike other vampires featured in vampire-themed films.

He said, "It's a vampire role but we are not making it a dark character. We're gonna make it different by attacking it differently and having some light moments. We're gonna do the best we can to give life to Sandrino in a collaborative way."

Angel is also happy to work again with Richard Gutierrez, her co-star in the youth-oriented show Click wherein they played twins.

The two were first paired as a love team in the 2004 fantasy series Mulawin, and continued playing onscreen partners until their last project in 2007.

Angel said, "Very excited na after 10 years, nakatrabaho ko uli si Richard. I think naman naexcite din kayo mapanuod kami uli.

"And kung ano yung excitement niyo, doble yung sa akin kasi kasabayan ko si Chard! Yung mga nuances niya, halos memorize ko na!

"Gusto ko makita kung papaano siya naggrow din as an actor kasi 10 years, e. Pero noong nagkita kami uli, parang di naman nakalipas yung sampung taon, nandun pa rin naman yung chemistry!"

It has been announced that Angel and John Lloyd will only appear in the pilot week of La Luna Sangre.

Does this mean that their characters will already be killed after their appearance?

Without giving a direct answer, Direk Cathy explained, "Ah, soap po ito, e. So may mga namamatay na akala mong patay. May nabubuhay na ganyan, so I cannot tell for sure. I don't want to spoil. But yes.

"Pero actually po, nakakahinayang kasi si John Lloyd at si Angel, gusto nating makasama ng matagal, wala, e. Itong dalawa ito [KathNiel] ay kailangan ng ilabas na.

"Panahon naman nila, kailangan nang ilipat ng korona."

According to Direk Cathy, who also helmed KathNiel projects Got To Believe (2013) and She's Dating The Gangster (2014), the computer graphics (CG) of La Luna Sangre have definitely improved compared to those in Lobo and Imortal.

She pointed out, "Mas advanced naman po, nakakahiya kung hindi after ilang taon. Sinusubukan.

"Isa ito sa actually kahinaan natin dito sa Pilipinas kung bakit di tayo makasabay sa action films, Hollywood films because of CG.

"They can do it because they have the money. We have so limited budget for the same expectations. Ang hirap tapatan ng walang salapi.

"Hangga't kaya naming ibigay ang ineexpect ninyo na quality ng graphics, pipilitin po namin, katulong po namin ang Mothership. Basta best po yung pinipilit naming galingan."

Direk Cathy, who co-directed Lobo in 2008 together with FM Reyes, differentiates this project from its first two installments.

"May iba po siyang timpla. Pinasukan po siya ng rom-com. Hindi po siya super dark. There will be parts that are dark especially kapag si Sandrino ang pinaguusapan.

"But Richard, as much as possible, to be careful din po kasi I think yung timeslot namin, may mga bata pang gising.

"So ayoko naman pong eventually, may magreklamo sa amin na nanaginip ang mga anak nila at nagnightmares sa mga vampires, baka maputol kami sa ere.

"Medyo mahirap manakot, at the same time, magpa-inlove at magpatawa, kaya po nandiyan si Joross [Gamboa], si Randy [Santiago], si Miss Gelli, tutulungan nila po kaming magpatawa at pagaanin yung show."

Fresh from his stint in the GMA-7 telefantasya Encantadia, Joross returns to his original home network to portray the role of Baristo, a werewolf who will raise Kathryn's character Malia.

Joross disclosed during the presscon that as a werewolf, he was required to do a nude scene.

He said in jest, "Hindi ako prepared noong pilot na marami akong topless. Actually, hindi lang topless, bottomless! Ang pangcover ko lang sa akin, corn.

"Maisan kasi yung lugar nila Lloydie so mais lang pangtakip ko!"

Randy Santiago also makes his acting comeback for La Luna Sangre as Dok. He will serve as Daniel's surrogate father.

The former TV host used to direct Willie Revillame's GMA-7 variety show Wowowin. However, he had to leave the show to focus more on acting. "Nagkataon naman na nabigyan ako ng call na 'Kuya Randy, pwede ka bang magsoap?'"

He pointed out that working with KathNiel and Direk Cathy is an offer too good to refuse.

Ina Raymundo also stages her Kapamilya comeback in La Luna Sangre as Veruska, the wife of punong-bantay Frederick (Victor Neri) and the son of Jake (Tony Labrusca).

Veruska has an ulterior motive that will cause her to clash with Malia.

"Kasi ang gusto kong sumunod na punong-bantay ay si Tony kaya noong nalaman ko na may propesiya, against ako dun so lahat gagawin ko para si Tony ang maging punong-bantay."

Gelli de Belen plays Betty, the aunt of Tristan who was separated from him after the death of his father.

"Ako yung tiyahn ni Tristan. Nahiwalay kami nung bata pa siya nung mamatay yung tatay niya na dating Luna."

Sue Ramirez plays Catleya, a werewolf who will be a sister figure to Malia.

Pinoy Boyband Superstar finalist Tony Labrusca participates in his first teleserye as Jake, a werewolf.

The newbie actor revealed that he also did a topless scene since he is a werewolf.

While laughing, Direk Cathy recalled Tony's cover up for his scene. "Kung yung kay Joross, corn. Yung kay Tony, bayabas!"

Bryan Santos reprises his role in Imortal as Gael, a vampire who is part of the council that is united with werewolves advocating for unity and peace among vampires, wolves, and humans.

(L-R) Joross, Sue, Bryan, and Tony are just some of the supporting cast members who will appear in La Luna Sangre.

Also in this series are Nikki Valdez, Mike Agassi, Victor Neri, and Romnick Sarmienta.