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Fillipino filmmaker Pedring Lopez is set to direct Ji, an action feature set in Korea and parts of Southeast Asia, with a cast that includes Yayan Ruhian of The Raid and Boy Kills World.

The film will be produced by the Philippines’ Black Ops Studios Asia and Singapore’s Very Tay Media, co-produced by Asia Media Alliance. It marks the second collaboration between Black Ops and Very Tay after upcoming martial arts vampire horror Blood Passage, also directed by Lopez.

Ji will centre on the head of a Korean crime syndicate who travels to the Philippines to rescue her kidnapped...

The CW used to be the ideal network for soapy teen dramas, sci-fi vampires and werewolf series, and DC superhero shows.

Now, it's a disappointing shell of those days.

The Vampire Diaries premiered back in 2009 and led to two additional spinoffs, while DC's Arrow began in 2012 and also began a massive franchise.

The CW used to include soapy dramas or sci-fi series, such as Supernatural, which launched Jared Padalecki's career.

The CW has only four original series left, and Superman & Lois will air its final season in the fall.

All American and All American: Homecoming are all on the bubble, while Walker was canceled. It seems like The CW has changed its' identity, and it's not favorable.

We long to return to those glory days when The CW ruled TV fandoms.

The Vampire Diaries Franchise Made History

The Vampire Diaries made history when it premiered on September 10, 2009.

It...

Action choreographer Brahim Chab, who recently staged the action sequences for Deve Patel’s “Monkey Man,” has joined the crew of “Blood Passage.” To be directed by The Philippines’ Pedring Lopez, who recently completed the prison drama series “Sellblock.”

“Blood Passage” is a martial arts vampire action horror feature set in Southeast Asia. It s tory follows a rescue mission gone wrong, that pits a private military unit against relentless supernatural forces.

The film is the first to emerge from the alliance between Lopez’s Blackops Studios Asia and Alaric Tay’s Very Tay Media.

The film will be produced by Rex Lopez for Blackops Studios Asia & Psyops8 and Tay for Very Tay Media. Fred Hedman of Evolution Pictures and Gfm Film Sales, and Christopher Shaw, scion of the Shaw Brothers legacy, will executive produce. Sonny Sisson, who provided stunts on Lopez’s “Sellblock,” will return in a similar role.

Singapore actor and filmmaker Alaric Tay (“Zombiepura”), through his Very Tay Media company has joined forces with two Philippines companies Black Ops Studios Asia and PsyOps Studios to produce a slate of films aimed at international markets.

The venture, that was facilitated by Hong Kong-based producer Mike Leeder, was announced on the eve of the Asia Television Forum (Atf) in Singapore.

They aim to put together a combined slate across diverse genres, including action, sci-fi, horror and comedy and have suggested a timeline extending to the fourth quarter of 2026.

The joint venture also includes partnerships with other Asian companies including Screen Ops (Hk), Fly Entertainment, Causeway Media Productions and IAmCasting.

“Singapore and the Philippines have the individual potential to execute projects with commercial appeal,” said Tay. “But by building stories together with like-minded visionaries beyond our own shores, we can elevate the types of projects that are being produced in our collective countries.

Alaric Saltzman — one of the main characters in The Vampire Diaries — was a vampire hunter that became a history teacher in Mystic Falls. He eventually served as headmaster of the Salvatore School, as seen in Legacies. But by the time he entered Elena Gilbert’s orbit, Alaric had already racked up a criminal record. So how did he get a teaching job at a public school with such a violent history?

In ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Season 1 Alaric Saltzman comes to Mystic Falls to kill Damon

The Vampire Diaries‘ first season sets up the love triangle between Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and vampire brothers Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley). And it also introduces Alaric Saltzman (Matthew Davis) as a key player in their supernatural story.

Actor Matthew Davis attends CW’s “The Vampire Diaries” panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014 in San Diego,...

In The Vampire Diaries, Alaric Saltzman was initially a mysterious figure who came to Mystic Falls and eventually moved in with Elena and Jeremy Gilbert. He had a questionable background and a close connection to the supernatural. So then why didn’t anyone in Mystic Falls find it strange that this complete stranger decided to live with the two teens?

In ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Alaric Saltzman stepped in as Elena and Jeremy’s guardian after Jenna died

In The Vampire Diaries Season 1, Alaric (Matthew Davis) comes to Mystic Falls to avenge his wife’s death. Believing Isobel was killed by Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder), he plans to hunt down and stake the vampire.

Actor Matthew Davis (L) and actress Nina Dobrev attend CW’s “The Vampire Diaries” panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California. | Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Alaric soon meets...

Matthew Davis played a pivotal role in The Vampire Diaries. His character, Alaric Saltzman, appeared in all Tvd projects, including the spinoffs The Originals and Legacies. Like most of his castmates, the actor joined the 2009 supernatural teen drama at a relatively young age. So, how old was Matthew Davis while on The Vampire Diaries?

Matthew Davis was 31 when ‘The Vampire Diaries’ debuted Matthew Davis at The CW’s ‘The Vampire Diaries’ panel during Comic-Con International 2014 in San Diego | Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Davis joined The Vampire Diaries in its first season, playing a vampire hunter and history teacher. Alaric Saltzman was many of the side characters who drove the plotline. The actor was on the show for three seasons until the end of season 3 when Alaric died.

Davis returned as a guest star for two seasons and then reprised his role in season 6 after his resurrection. Magic takes away his vampirism,...

Death was a regular occurrence in The Vampire Diaries. It was so routine that there was even a “Wall of Dead” lined with headshots of the characters who had died. However, series co-creator Kevin Williamson revealed he was nervous about killing one central character.

A major character dies in the series finale of ‘The Vampire Diaries’ The cast of ‘The Vampire Diaries’ in 2012 | Joe Scarnici/FilmMagic

The final episode of The Vampire Diaries, “I Was Feeling Epic,” left many viewers’ mouths open when it killed a major character no one suspected.

A quick episode recap: The evil Katherine threatens Mystic Falls yet again as she makes her imminent return to burn down the town with Hellfire. Katherine uses Vicki to ring the town bell to summon the Hellfire. Bonnie realizes the secret to saving Mystic Falls is not to stop the fire but to divert it. With the help of the Bennett Witches,...

Stefan Salvatore’s romantic interests in The Vampire Diaries were the most interesting of any character. The moody Salvatore had tremendous chemistry with practically all the women who fell in love with him during the course of the series. And while there were a few potential partners for Stefan to end up with, many viewers couldn’t agree on the best choice.

Paul Wesley | Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Who did Stefan Salvatore end up with in ‘Tvd’?

Various characters may have stolen Stefan Salvatore’s heart in The Vampire Diaries, but he finally found true love with Caroline Forbes in the later seasons of the show. While Tvd’s central focus was initially on Stefan’s connection with Elena Gilbert, the story shifted away from the love triangle premise after Elena fell in love with Damon. In the eighth-season episode “Today Will Be Different,” Stefan proposes to Caroline, and they eventually tie the knot.

The Vampire Diaries aired its final season in 2017, but its legacy has continued through equally popular shows like The Originals and Legacies. Legacies ran for four seasons before its cancelation in 2022 and paid homage to shows in the Tvd universe before it in many ways.

One of the tribute episodes was a Tvd musical, and Kaylee Bryant played Elena Gilbert. Like her musical character’s Tvd actor, Bryant pulled a Nina Dobrev and left the show early. So, why did Bryant leave Legacies?

Kaylee Bryant’s role in ‘Legacies’

What happened to Josie? A new episode of #Legacies starts Now on The CW! pic.twitter.com/iJVXowB5eK

— Legacies (@cwlegacies) December 3, 2021

Kaylee Bryant plays one half of Alaric’s Gemini twins, Josie, who studies at his and Caroline’s Salvatore School. She and her twin Lizzie are siphon witches, each sharing many similarities with their parents. Lizzie, like the human Caroline,...

The Vampire Diaries was about vampires and teenagers, right? Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) vied for the affections of Elena (Nina Dobrev), and it got complicated. But, to co-creator Kevin Williamson, The Vampire Diaries was about something more. Set in the fictional Mystic Falls, Va, to Williamson the show was a small town story.

L-r: Paul Wesley, Nina Dobrev, and Ian Somerhalder | Jason Laveris/FilmMagic

Williamson was on a Television Critics Association panel for The Vampire Diaries in 2009. He described his focus on Mystic Falls as the show began its eventual eight season run.

Mystic Falls was the heart of ‘The Vampire Diaries’

It’s a cliche to say the location is another character in a show or film. Anything that shoots in New York says that about the city. But, Williamson made a strong case for Mystic Falls being the central focus of The Vampire Diaries.

“We...

The Vampire Diaries concluded its eight-season story with two significant deaths — Stefan Salvatore and Katherine Pierce. But according to series co-creator Kevin Williamson, the original plan was to kill everyone off except for two key characters.

[Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for The Vampire Diaries’ series finale.]

Paul Wesley, Candice King, Michael Malarkey, Kat Graham, and Ian Somerhalder | Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images Stefan Salvatore sacrifices himself in ‘The Vampire Diaries’ finale

In The Vampire Diaries series finale, Mystic Falls and its residents are saved from Katherine Pierce (Nina Dobrev) one last time. The doppelganger returns to the town with plans to burn it to the ground.

To stop her, Bonnie Bennett (Kat Graham) comes up with a supernatural solution that requires one of the Salvatore brothers to die. Damon (Ian Somerhalder) offers himself up as a sacrifice. But Stefan (Paul Wesley), who wants his brother to live a happy life with Elena (Nina Dobrev), decides to give his life instead.

The Vampire Diaries had a knack for killing its characters and bringing them back to life almost immediately. No one truly stayed dead in the Tvd universe, and for those who never returned, their spirit usually lingered in the afterlife.

One such character was Lexi Branson, who spent much of her time on the series on “The Other Side.” However, Lexi had so much to offer and should have returned from The Other Side.

Lexi actor Arielle Kebbel | Kevin Winter/Getty Images Lexi was Stefan’s best friend

Viewers first meet Lexi in season one, episode eight. She was a vampire and Stefan’s best friend who had known the Salvatore brothers for more than a century. Lexi only appeared alive in the series for one episode before Damon killed her to get the Founder’s Council off his and Stefan’s scent.

Lexi was 350 years old, and her history...

Alaric McAusland Tapped For MD Role At Dneg’s New Sydney Hub

Top Australian film exec Alaric McAusland has joined VFX and animation company Dneg’s new Sydney hub as managing director and will take up the role in January 2023. McAusland has held a number of significant entertainment industry leadership roles in both Australia and the U.S. across his 25-year career. Most recently, he served as Executive Director for the Australian Directors’ Guild and was previously Chief Operating Officer at the Emmy award-winning, Los Angeles-based production house, Grace: A Storytelling Company. He also served as Managing Director of Deluxe Entertainment Service Group Australia and is a past Chair of Ausfilm. Recently opened Dneg Sydney’s first project is leading the visual effects work for George Miller’s highly anticipated Mad Max prequel, Furiosa. “I am delighted to welcome Alaric onboard to lead our new Dneg Sydney team,” said Merzin Tavaria,...

Legacies is over, but if the show had been renewed, we would have met a character high up on the wishlist of fans of The Vampire Diaries.

Julie Plec, the creator of the canceled CW drama, revealed in a new interview that Stefanie Salvatore would have been introduced.

Stefanie was "very much at the top of our white board as a character that we were planning on introducing, should the show move forward," Plec told TV Line.

If you watch Legacies online, you know Stefanie was mentioned in an alternate reality episode during the drama's freshman season.

“In my mind, Damon and Elena had kids in our timeline,” Plec told the outlet.

“The way we alluded to her in the genie episode was as though she was 12 or 13. But in the Legacies timeline, their kids were younger, probably toddlers.”

That being said, Plec was coyer about how Stefanie would enter the narrative.

The CW’s “Legacies” ended on Thursday with not one, but two very special appearances from beloved characters.

Joesph Morgan’s Klaus Mikaelson spoke with his daughter Hope from the afterlife to let her know that he’d finally found peace — which showrunner Brett Matthews told TheWrap was an integral part of bringing the show to a close. Fans might have guessed that Morgan was making a return, after he cryptically teased it on social media, but they likely weren’t expecting the surprise return of Candice King as Caroline Forbes — a character from the original “The Vampire Diaries.”

“I hope that there was a whole bunch of people that actually get to watch it live and be totally surprised,” King told TheWrap. “That was the goal. We’ve been trying to have Caroline Forbes get back into the ‘Legacies’ world for a while now.”

Also Read:

‘The Vampire Diaries’ Universe Will Expand,...

How did it all end for the students of the Salvatore School?

On Legacies Season 4 Episode 20, Hope wanted to say one last goodbye to her father.

As Landon set off on a mission to bring Klaus back from the dead, Alaric decided to close the school.

Meanwhile, Jed was shocked to learn that the werewolf curse was over, meaning that all of the werewolves in the world were now human.

Watch Legacies Season 4 Episode 20 Online

Use the video above to watch Legacies online right here via TV Fanatic.

Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

TV Fanatic is your destination for the latest news, spoilers, reviews, and so much more!

Tying up a four-year-old show and a 13-year-old franchise with an episode that wasn't initially planned as a finale can't have been an easy task, but Legacies Season 4 Episode 20 was a near-perfect installment that left me feeling both satisfied and excited for the future of the characters.

If you watch Legacies online, you know Hope's journey has largely been linked to her father's death on The Originals Season 5 Episode 13.

He died saving her from the Hollow, alongside her uncle Elijah, and ever since, she's struggled to come to terms with the fact that she's lost such significant influences in her life.

Joseph Morgan has been vocal about not returning to the franchise. Given that he's been busy filming Titans Season 4, there was no way to tell whether his social media teases would lead to anything of substance.

Thankfully, fans got their wish, and a message from beyond the grave was...

Well, look who finally decided to show up!

Thursday’s series finale of Legacies welcomed two of the most beloved characters (according to our ranking, anyway!) in the Vampire Diaries Universe: Klaus Mikaelson and Caroline Forbes, albeit under very different circumstances.

More from TVLinePerformer of the Week: Rose ByrneRatings: NBA Championship Game Draws 14 Mil, Legacies Flat With FinaleCandice King Talks Caroline's Journey to Legacies, How She Scored Her Daughter a Role in the Series Finale

Let’s start with Klaus, who delivered a tearful message to Hope from Peace through the magic of a projector screen. As you probably guessed,...

The CW’s “Legacies” came to a close on Thursday night with an emotional series finale. The Super Squad had to deal with the aftermath of their battle with Ken the God.

While the good guys ultimately saved the day once again, Alaric decides that it’s too much to ask any of the students have have to keep saving the world (which is totally fair) and tells them he’s shutting down the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted.

Hope, Lizzie and the rest of the crew spend a majority of the episode trying to convince him otherwise — with a little help from surprise guest Caroline Forbes (Candice King). At the end of the episode, Alaric reveals that Caroline will take over as headmistress while he steps away to write the definitive history of the so-called mythological creatures he’s encountered.

Also Read:

Joseph Morgan Shuts Down Rumors...

For the brains behind The CW’s Legacies, writing Thursday’s series finale (9/8c) was about “specifically bringing this show to a close in as elegant a way as we could,” showrunner Brett Matthews tells TVLine. Any additional Easter eggs for longtime fans of the Vampire Diaries universe (and there are several!) are merely bonuses.

“The finale is definitely Legacies focused, but because this show is tied to that greater universe, it actually touches on every show within the franchise,” Matthews says.

More from TVLineKung Fu's Olivia Liang Weighs in on That Surprising Season 2 Finale Death: 'It Can't End There' (Plus,...

It's been a turbulent road for The CW's Legacies, but it's hard to believe the series wraps up for good in less than a week.

Legacies Season 4 Episode 20 has a big task:

It has to wrap up the series in a satisfying fashion while also saying goodbye to The Vampire Diaries universe.

This journey for many of us fans began in 2009 with the original series.

Thankfully, the series finale teases a closure-filled affair as the Salvatore School students decide what to do next.

The battle with Ken came to a grinding halt on Legacies Season 4 Episode 19, and all that's left is for the students to process the events.

"Hope (Danielle Rose Russell), Lizzie (Jenny Boyd), Mg (Quincy Fouse), Kaleb (Chris Lee), Jed (Ben Levin), Cleo (Omono Okojie) and Alaric (Matthew Davis) reflect on recent events and what comes next for each of them," reads the official description for "Just Don't Be A Stranger,...

HBO Asia, a regional home for premium cable programming, is getting set to premiere its first original comedy-drama series, and in doing so, it will give a local YouTube star a chance to shine. Haresh Tilani, the co-founder of the Singaporean sketch comedy hub Ministry of Funny, is the star of Sent, which will premiere on HBO Asia on September 17.

In Sent, Tilani will play Jay, a man who vents his frustrations by writing out nasty emails he never sends. When he accidentally airs all his dirty laundry for the public to see, he must navigate the fallout while encountering many of the people he "wrote" to. A behind-the-scenes look at the show is available through the HBO Asia YouTube channel, and it gives potential viewers an idea of the blend of humor and earnest emotion they can expect.

Tilani launched Ministry of Funny alongside Terence Chia in 2011, and the...

To borrow my favorite phrase from That ’70s Show‘s Kitty Forman, the characters on The Vampire Diaries “switch partners more than square dancers” — and we love them for it.

RelatedVampire Diaries Ep Previews the Fight for Mystic Falls, a Possible Originals Connection and More in Series Finale

During the past eight seasons, Tvd has given us countless ‘ships to enjoy, from short-term affairs like “Mabekah” (Matt and Rebekah) to longer-lasting relationships like “Steroline” (Stefan and Caroline, naturally). And then there were the love triangles — my Glob, the triangles!

With the series finale — which promises several reunions between former flames — now less than 12 hours away,...

The Vampire Diaries‘ Alaric Saltzman doesn’t have the best track record with women — just grab a Ouija board and ask Jenna or Isobel — but Jodi Lyn O’Keefe (aka newcomer Jo) tells TVLine that the pouty professor’s luck is about to change.

Related Vampire Diaries Photos: Is Elena Developing a New Campus Crush?

More from TVLineWalker Sneak Peek: Cassie Teams With Independence's Justin Johnson Cortez on Jackal Case (Exclusive)All American Gets Extra Season 6 Episodes, Eyes a Wave of New Cast Members If Renewed (Report)All American's Cody Christian Explains That Shocking Return: [Spoiler] Will 'Pleasantly Surprise Some People'

“Maybe...

Got a scoop request? An anonymous tip you’re dying to share? Just want to say hi? Send any/all of the above to askausiello@tvline.com

Question: You got anything good from Grey’s Anatomy on Meredith and Derek? —Jessica

Ausiello: Would you settle for something bad? Derek’s efforts to encourage a hesitant Meredith to work with him again in neurology will backfire. “It doesn’t go so well,” reveals series creator Shonda Rhimes. “I’ve been very clear — and the writers and I have had long conversations about this — that part of saving their relationship, they decided, meant...

Got a scoop request? An anonymous tip you’re dying to share? Just want to say hi? Send any/all of the above to askausiello@tvline.com

Question: You promised me, Ausiello! Explode my Dair-loving heart, sir. —Elle

Ausiello: Ok, just keep the Ekg paddles handy! Dan is about to reveal his true feelings for Blair on Gossip Girl… but not in a way that actually lets her know that he has done so! Here’s how the whole thing goes down: Blair’s still on the fence about whether to take the plunge with Louis when she stumbles upon...