ABS-CBN to adapt Nippon TV’s “Mother” for Filipino viewers

Announcement marks 10th adaptation of “Mother,” Asia’s #1 exported scripted format. (ABS-CBN)

Julia Montes topbills “Saving Grace” as the Philippines’ “Mother”

ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ leading content provider, and Nippon TV, Japan’s leading multiplatform entertainment powerhouse and ratings champion broadcaster, are partnering for the tenth adaptation of the hit Japanese TV drama “Mother” for Filipino audiences, which will be known locally by its title “Saving Grace” and it will be top-billed by award-winning actress Julia Montes.

“Mother” achieved award-winning success when it first aired on Nippon TV in 2010 and it is now Asia’s most exported scripted format.

The well-loved series about love and motherhood spawned various critically-acclaimed adaptations in different countries – Turkey, South Korea, Ukraine, Thailand, China, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Mongolia. The Philippine version records a landmark tenth adaptation of the coveted script.

“We’re very, very happy and excited to announce ABS-CBN Studios’ newest Dreamscape production ‘Saving Grace.’ This is the Philippine adaptation of ‘Mother’ that is created and produced by Nippon TV. This is our very first adaptation of a Nippon TV series and we are very grateful to Nippon TV for entrusting us with the rights for the Filipino version. It’s a beautiful story that really centers around the importance of family and motherhood and promises to be a very emotionally engaging and heartwarming series that will deeply resonate with the Filipino audience and the non-Filipino audiences worldwide,” shared Cory Vidanes, chief operating officer of ABS-CBN.

“As we celebrate our landmark tenth international deal for ‘Mother,’ we are delighted to be announcing this adaptation with ABS-CBN. ‘Mother’ is truly a beautiful story and we are confident that the Filipino audience is going to love it. Best wishes to the cast and crew,” said Yuki Akehi and Sally Yamamoto, Content Business, Nippon TV.

Julia becomes the eleventh ‘mother’ to take on the pivotal role after the impressive portrayals of her counterparts from different countries. With Julia’s notable career achievements and compelling roles ranging across various genres, she now takes on another challenging character that will highlight a different facet of her artistry that aims to captivate audiences.

Other cast members who will be joining Julia in “Saving Grace” will be revealed soon.

“Saving Grace” will go into production soon and is set to air in 2025. The thrilling story revolves around a struggling teacher who impulsively abducts a young student who suffers from abuse from her own mother. The risky journey becomes complicated as it turns into a national manhunt for the child.