Showbiz

'The Kingdom' Series on TV5 Has Been Shelved Due to Budget Problems — Piolo Pascual and Derek Ramsay's Fantasy Epic Won't Happen

Tabloid PH Newsdesk

Feb 28, 2026 — 1 min read

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The much-anticipated fantasy series 'The Kingdom: Magkabilang Mundo,' which was supposed to air on TV5 in 2026, has been shelved due to budget constraints. The project, which had a reported production budget of ₱200 million and was set to be directed by Michael Tuviera, will no longer move forward as planned.

Showbiz insider Ogie Diaz broke the news on his 'Showbiz Update' vlog, revealing that the production encountered financial difficulties that forced management to pull the plug. A source was quoted saying: "Sobrang pagtitipid ngayong ang pamunuan ng TV5 kasi ang laki-laki ng nailabas ng pera last year na hindi naman bumalik kahit puhunan lang."

The cancellation reportedly left Piolo Pascual disappointed. He and Derek Ramsay were set to headline the series, making their pairing one of the most anticipated collaborations for the Kapatid network. The Kingdom's film version, starring Vic Sotto and Piolo, had performed well at the 2024 box office — but that success apparently wasn't enough to greenlight the series.

One major factor behind TV5's belt-tightening was reportedly the poor performance of 'Manila's Finest,' which failed to recoup its substantial investment. When your flagship show burns through the budget without returns, everything else gets cut — including the fantasy epic viewers were looking forward to.

With The Kingdom shelved, TV5's next big bet is 'Secret in Prague,' starring Enrique Gil and Andrea Brillantes, produced by MQuest Ventures and Gil's own Slingshot Studios. It's a very different project from a ₱200-million fantasy world — pero at this point, TV5 probably can't afford to dream that big again. Sayang talaga.

Source: PhilNews

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