Today (December 3rd) at ATF, three significant players in the ASEAN television market announced that they are to collaborate for a major new co-production agreement. Malaysian production company Double Vision and Malaysian studio Astro Shaw will now work with ABS-CBN, the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, to produce three new drama series over the next two-three years.

Under the terms of the partnership, the three series – each 10 hours in length – will be made available to viewers as iWant Originals on the iWant platform, ABS-CBN’s OTT service, and as Astro Originals on Astro platforms in Malaysia.

The first series into production in the second half of 2026, and due for delivery towards the end of the year, will be a reboot of the landmark romantic drama A Time for Us (Kahit Isang Saglit). First produced in 2008 by Double Vision and ABS-CBN, the series broke ground as one of the first high-profile Filipino-Malaysian co-productions and was the first such title to receive an International Emmy nomination (for Best Telenovela in 2009).

Now, development is underway to reimagine this cross-border, romantic suspense drama for a modern, global audience. Set between bustling Kuala Lumpur and the charged political landscape of the Philippines, A Time for Us follows Angela, a Malaysian woman who unearths a clue to her father’s mysterious disappearance – one that takes her into a shadowy world of international corruption. Meanwhile, Miguel, a Filipino Interpol agent, is on a parallel mission to dismantle a Southeast Asian crime syndicate – and unknowingly to confront the truth behind his own father’s unsolved murder. When Miguel and Angela’s investigations converge, they discover their families are deeply intertwined in a cover-up that spans decades.

The other two scripted series will be Besa and Habitat.

Besa is a smart, gritty and intricate crime thriller, based on an original idea by Srđan Šaper and created by award-winning British writer Tony Jordan (Hustle, Life on Mars). The new series will be an adaptation of the original drama of the same name, in cooperation with rights holder Adrenalin. The original version was co-produced by Adrenalin (Serbia), Red Planet Pictures (UK), PRVA (Serbia), Planet TV (Slovenia) and RTL (Croatia). It was sold across international markets, including the US where it aired on Walter Presents, and the format has been successfully adapted for Arabic audiences by MBC, airing on Shahid. The Malaysian-Filipino version of the format will follow the dark journey of Gabriel Diaz, a Filipino man dragged into a secret underground mafia world and forced to kill to atone for accidently killing the daughter of a Malaysian gang boss.

Besa creator Srđan Šaper comments: “As a story that plays out across international borders, Besa is a format that lends itself well to such a co-production partnership. We are excited at the vision for this Malaysian-Filipino adaptation and at the commitment to the series from each of the three companies. We look forward to following its progress to the screen.”

Finally, Habitat, based on an original idea from Double Vision, is a YA (young adult), science fiction/adventure drama about a group of misfit teenagers who must save the world from the evil teachers at their boarding school – who just happen to be body snatching aliens.

Jamie Lopez, Head of Digital at ABS-CBN says: “While each of the series on this co-production slate is very different, the common thread of brilliant stories, engaging characters and excellent production values makes them all perfect for our newly revamped iWant streaming platform – and the large numbers of discerning Filipino viewers it attracts – both at home and overseas. Premium programming is at the very heart of our offer, and I am excited that this new co-production partnership will deliver 30 hours of top-quality content over the next two to three years.”

Min Lim, Head of Production at Double Vision, comments: “We are on the cusp of a very exciting time for Southeast Asian content and for Double Vision, now in its 40th year, we are honoured to work with ABS-CBN and Astro Shaw. Not only are they trusted partners today, but more importantly, they have been with us on this journey over the last few decades. With a new original story, the reboot of a popular classic and a scripted adaptation – something we have done very successfully in the past with Liar and The Bridge – this varied co-production slate will be the perfect platform for us to continue delivering premium drama that resonates with wide-ranging audiences at a national, regional and global level.”

Raja Jastina Raja Arshad, Head of Astro Shaw, adds: “For Astro Shaw, meaningful co-productions are the catalyst to elevate regional storytelling. Working with trusted partners enables us to scale our Astro Originals ambition, deepen our creative capabilities, and deliver premium Southeast Asian content to a wider global audience.”

The co-production agreement is being supported by FINAS, Malaysia’s National Film Development Corporation. Dato Hans Isaac, Chairman of FINAS, concludes: “FINAS welcomes this co-production agreement as an important step in strengthening regional collaboration and expanding the reach of Malaysian content. This partnership supports our efforts to enhance the creative economy and elevate Malayasia’s presence in the global entertainment landscape.”

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Categories: Press Releases

Tags: Astro, Malaysia, production