Jolina and Marvin Reunite After 25 Years As 'Ex Ex Lovers'

Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin are proving that some love teams are built to last.

- Nathalie Tomada

They are set to rekindle their onscreen chemistry in the upcoming film "Ex Ex Lovers," directed by JP Habac, which promises to bring back the charm of classic romantic comedies that defined an era.

Jolina and Marvin, whose last film together was "I.T.A.L.Y. (I Trust And I Love You)" in 2008, first became popular as a reel pair in the 90s with films like "Hey Babe!" and "Flames: The Movie."

Surprised that they still have a following, even though they went on separate ways and career trajectories, the stars are grateful to have never become a couple in real life. Otherwise, the kilig over their partnership wouldn't have lasted long enough to generate interest if not clamor for a reunion project.

"Ex Ex Lovers" also tackles a theme somewhat inspired by the Philippines being one of the last places in the world—the other one is Vatican City—where divorce is not legal. Set in Malta, one of the last countries to legalize divorce, the film adds a unique backdrop rarely explored in Philippine cinema.

In the film, Jolina is Joy, who travels to Malta to ask her estranged partner Ced, played by Marvin, to walk their daughter down the aisle. However, with the exes still harboring hard feelings from the past, both chaos and chemistry resurface in unexpected ways.

The project, which has been in the works since 2018, underwent several changes before taking its current form.

According to direk Tonette Jadaone of Project 8 Projects, one of the producers with Cornerstone Entertainment, "It wasn't 'Ex Ex Lovers' in the beginning because it was a completely different story. Before, hindi pa siya rom-com na rom-com. May pagka-sexy, hahaha. But it seemed their schedules didn't align and then, finally, everything fell into place. I feel like the timing is just right."