A Filipino movie getting a sequel is not unheard of, but there are only a few follow-ups to films that are not box-office hits. This means fans of the 2017 coming-of-age law school drama Bar Boys are in for a treat now that its sequel, is Bar Boys: After School is currently in production. Director Kip Oebanda, who wrote and helmed the first movie, is returning for the sequel, which promises a cast of both new and familiar faces.
Bar Boys followed Torran (Rocco Nacino), Chris (Enzo Pineda), Erik (Carlo Aquino), and Josh (Kean Cipriano) as they dealt with the demands of law school and the strain it put on their friendship. While Torran, Chris, and Erik managed to pass their entrance exam, Josh did not, and instead chose to pursue a career as an actor. The film tracked how each of them confronted pressure not just from school, but from family, money, and ambition, and how those challenges reshaped their bond.
Eight years later, Bar Boys: After School picks up the thread, exploring where life has taken the four friends. The film’s official Facebook page doesn’t reveal too much about the sequel’s plot; however, it does mention that it will take place during the barkada’s ten-year reunion, where the boys will discover that a beloved mentor has fallen ill.
The sequel promises a cast of exciting newcomers to the world of Bar Boys. As of writing, the latest addition to the ensemble is comedian, singer, and vlogger Sassa Gurl, who will be playing a character inspired by the “class valedictorian of a prestigious law school,” according to the film’s social media posts.
Will Ashley, one of the Big Four housemates on Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition, will also be joining the cast as a struggling law student. Other newcomers include Royce Cabrera, Glaiza de Castro, Benedix Ramos, and Therese Malvar.
Additionally, Cipriano, Pineda, and Nacino have all confirmed that they will be returning to reprise their roles in the sequel.
The cultural impact of Bar Boys has only grown since its release in theaters in 2017. The movie has since been adapted into a 2024 musical production by Barefoot Theatre Collaborative. After two successful runs, the theater group is bringing the musical back to the stage this October.
