Alden Richards may yet become 2026’s biggest Pinoy actor if his co-produced international movie, Big Tiger, roars mightily across the globe and does not turn out to be a white elephant.

Richards wants Big Tiger to showcase new dimensions of his abilities as an actor. The film stars him as a villain with substantial action sequences — a role he is taking on for the first time in his 15-year, undeniably successful showbiz career.

The film recently shot scenes in the Philippines. Richards describes his experience as “all new to me.” He transforms from his usual clean-cut image to portray a morally complex character in an action-driven story. While he remains tight-lipped about plot specifics, he confirmed the film demanded intense physical preparation due to the many action scenes.

Sharing the screen with foreign actors was initially unnerving for him. The actor, whose two films hold the record for the highest worldwide revenues among Pinoy films, admitted: “At first I was intimidated, nahihiya. Siyempre, ubusan ng English ( I was shy at the start. I had to speak in English).”

But those misgivings quickly faded on set. “Para rin silang mga Pilipino (they are like Filipinos) in terms of being accommodating… I am so happy, and at the same time, ang daming kwento at ang dami kong natutunan (There are so many stories. I learned a lot).”

Beyond working with an international cast, Richards takes on a larger role as co-producer of Big Tiger, marking his three-year-old company Myriad Entertainment’s bold leap into the international film scene.

He is collaborating with Los Angeles-based partners Lux Angeles Studio and Birns & Sawyer. Lux Angeles Studio, headed by Matthew Macur, is a full-service film and post-production company whose projects include American Idol, Top Chef, and Who’s Got Talent. Birns & Sawyer, led by Filipino-American entrepreneur Maci Acevedo, provides motion picture camera and production equipment rentals.

But what happened to Richards’ 2025 partnership with the Viva Group of Companies, signed through Myriad Entertainment?

He told the media that the collaboration, which began in April 2025, produced projects spanning film, music, live events, and other business ventures.

The partnership also gave Richards the opportunity to direct films. He helmed Out of Order, a drama-thriller in which he stars alongside Heaven Peralejo and Nonie Buencamino. The movie premiered on Netflix in October 2025 after being selected for several international film festivals, including the Da Nang Asian Film Festival.

Viva also facilitated a Philippine adaptation of Pee Mak, a hit Thai supernatural horror-comedy. Additionally, a Richards-Julia Barretto film is in the works. Richards expressed a strong desire to collaborate with Anne Curtis: “Anne has been my longest-time crush, and we’ve bonded, but we haven’t worked together yet. I’m looking forward to doing a film with her in 2026. I will make time for it,” he stressed.

Under the Viva Live and Viva Records collaboration, Richards is set to produce an album featuring original songs and headline his fourth major solo concert.

The partnership is also reviving Richards’ role as a restaurateur. His garden café, Concha’s Garden Café, has joined the portfolio of food businesses franchised by Viva Foods.

Richards shared a deeper reason for his entrepreneurial pursuits: “I’m building business because it’s my only way to help more people.”

He emphasized that he has no interest in a political career: “Politics is not for me. I want to have a legacy of living a life of purpose and changing the lives of people I meet along the way,” he declared.

Alden’s passion for helping others, especially the youth, stems from his own experiences. “I didn’t get to finish school,” he admitted, “but through the AR Foundation, I now support scholars who will. That’s the kind of impact I want to make. One that lasts. That’s where I’m placing my energy.”

Despite his independent push into international projects, there are no reports of resentment from any camp he’s associated with for not including them in negotiations.

There’s also no announcement that he is no longer a GMA Network Sparkle Star. Richards openly shares that he feels grateful the Kapuso network supports all his independent endeavors.

Currently, few Pinoy showbiz idols enjoy such freedom from network and studio restrictions. Perhaps ABS-CBN’s Coco Martin could have the same privilege if he sought it.

We wish Alden Richards the very best in 2026.