Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla; Bianca Bernardino (photos by Allan Sancon/PEP.ph)

Summit Media and Star Cinema have inked a deal to turn the young adult novel published by Summit Books, She’s Dating the Gangster by Bianca Bernardino, into a motion picture. 

In a contract signing on January 28, 2014 attended by Summit Media President Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, Star Creatives Group Head Malou N. Santos and Senior Finance Officer Ana Liza Espiritu, and Bernardino, it was announced that the film will feature the stars of ABS-CBN’s Got to Believe, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, in the lead roles, and will be directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, director of such romantic blockbusters as One More Chance, A Very Special Love, and It Takes a Man and a Woman. Filming will start in March this year.

(L-R) Summit Media President Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, Bianca Bernardino, Star Creatives Group Head Malou N. Santos and Senior Finance Officer Ana Liza Espiritu (photo courtesy of Star Cinema)

She’s Dating the Gangster is the story of two teenagers, underdog Athena Dizon and campus bad boy Kenji de los Reyes, who begin a pretend relationship that ultimately transforms into something deeper. The story was first published on social publishing site Wattpad, after which it was released by Summit Books in March 2013. The following April, it shot to the top of National Book Store’s Philippine bestseller list. Since then, it has sold over 50,000 copies nationwide.

In an interview with PEP.ph, Bernardino shares why she believes Bernardo and Padilla will give justice to Athena and Kenji. “Kasi, si Daniel kasi medyo bad boy ‘yung pino-portray niya sa TV. Akala natin ganun siya pero nakikita ko na medyo sweet pala siya na tao… Medyo ganun yung karakter nung guy sa book ko... Si Kathryn naman kasi medyo parang underdog na palaban, e, ganun ‘yung girl dito sa book na kahit na anong gawin sa kanya ay hindi pa rin sya nag gi-give-up.” In fact, in an interview with Candymag.com in April 2013, Bernardino had already cited Bernardo and Padilla as her dream leads if ever She’s Dating the Gangster were turned into a movie.

(L-R) Summit Media President Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, Bianca Bernardino, Summit Books Managing Editor Mavreen Yapchiongco, and Summit Books Team Publisher Christine Ko (photo courtesy of Star Cinema)

Gokongwei-Cheng is also optimistic about the newly-inked partnership with Star Cinema. “I think Star Cinema is the best in the movie industry. They have the best quality films and the best stars also,” she tells PEP.ph.

She’s Dating the Gangster is available in bookstores and magazine stands nationwide for P175. She’s Dating the Gangster: Extended Edition is also available from Summit Books’ Pop Fiction imprint for the same price.