Encantadia hasn’t even premiered yet, but already netizens are comparing it to the fantasy series Game of Thrones.
We can’t blame them, really, since the remake of the GMA TV show came at a time when Game of Thrones has become a dominating force in pop culture.
There’s also the fact that the show got Game of Thrones actor Conan Steven to play a part in the show.
READ: ‘Game of Thrones’ actor joins Filipino telefantasya ‘Encantadia’
Encantadia director Mark Reyes said he’s flattered by the comparisons. But no, Encantadia is not aiming to be the Pinoy Game of Thrones.
Speaking to Pep.ph, Reyes said the two shows can’t be compared because Encantadia came before Game of Thrones.
The original Encantadia, also director by Reyes, first aired on May 2005. Game of Thrones premiered in HBO on April 2011 (although A Song of Fire and Ice, the fantasy novel series from which it was adapted from, was first published in 1996).
“But the way they shoot things, I get influenced by them. Attention to detail, I take it very seriously. I read production books of Game of Thrones. But we don’t copy because it’s totally different,” he added.
The director even revealed that GMA gave them a “standing order” that Encantadia should not look like Game of Thrones.
“That was a standing order: we should not look like Game of Thrones,” he said.
Which makes us wonder why they hired a Game of Thrones actor to star in the show in the first place.
Stevens himself saw similiarities between the US show and the Filipino telefantasya.
“I can see the inspiration. Again, this is just the pilot. I’m guessing people didn’t see the pilot of Game of Thrones but I can see the similarities. Obviously, in the beginning, a show would start and find its own way,” he told Pep.ph.
Rappler also reported that Encantadia‘s opening credits will pay homage to Game of Thrones‘ opening title sequence. That’s intentional, Reyes said, because they’re all fans of the show.
But why pay homage to a show you’re not supposed to look like?
Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Encantadia premieres on Mon, Jul 18 on GMA.
