Why Joshua and Julia felt it was time to reunite

MANILA, Philippines — After years of going their separate ways, former reel and real-life couple Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto, popularly known to their fans as JoshLia, have reunited for the heartbreak drama “Un/Happy for You.”

Directed by Petersen Vargas under Viva Films and ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema, the film delves into the complex emotions of ex-lovers who cross paths again, exploring whether time has healed old wounds or left them festering beneath the surface.

For Julia and Joshua, time played an important role in their decision to work together again. They last appeared together in a film, “Block Z,” in 2020 but parted ways in 2019. They worked again for the Paubaya music video of Moira dela Torre. Since then, they have had received “reunion” offers but only agreed to do so this year.

Both actors acknowledged that the time apart allowed them to approach their roles with a sense of openness and maturity.

“It was the perfect timing and the perfect material,” said Julia of the story written by Kookai Labayen, Crystal San Miguel, and Jen Chuaunsu.

Joshua said, “Nakatulong din yung tagal ng panahon bago nagtrabaho ulit, bago sumabak ulit because this time dami naming nakitang bago sa isa’t isa, parang nasu-surprise kami bawat eksena.”

“Umpisa nangangapa, familiar naman kami because, of course, we had worked for a long time. Siguro kinakabahan din kami, paano kaya namin gagawin ito? But nag-work naman siya, sobra,” the actor further shared.

Their decision to reunite onscreen also has the support of their respective partners.

Joshua mentioned, “Yung partner ko, well, bago pa naman kami nagkakakilala alam naman niya na actor na ako. Actually, sinabi ko sa kanya, sabi naman niya, excited daw siya.”

Julia echoed this sentiment, adding, “Yeah, I know I think we’re both in the industry, we both know how this works, he’s done something very similar to this. He’s very understanding and he’s very supportive in everything naman that I do.”

The film’s narrative centers around Juancho and Zy, two exes who never had the chance to gain closure after their breakup.

Julia described the story as a “rollercoaster ride journey” for both characters, as they navigate unresolved feelings and the conflict of whether to rekindle their relationship or accept that their separation was the right choice.

“Juancho and Zy are exes who years later cross paths again and realize they never had a chance of a closure so we’ll see in the film how they both navigate things that they’ve not acknowledged and talked about in the past,” Julia explained.

Talking more about their characters, Julia described hers as a complex individual who always keeps holding back.

“Ang daming restraint in the character, ang dami niyang kinikimkim because she thinks it’s the best for everyone, she doesn’t want to hurt anyone further. She’s a brave (person) and a go-getter but she genuinely cares for Josh’s character, Juancho, but she’s looking for that right balance for everything,” she shared.

Joshua, too, found a deep connection with his character, Juancho, though he admitted some differences. “Naka-relate ako sa pain ni Juancho, but paano niya handle yung pain na yun, medyo hindi ako naka-relate dun. At the same time, yung character namin hindi din masyado malayo sa atin. Mabilis din kami nakapasok,” he noted.

The chemistry between Julia and Joshua, which once made them one of the most beloved love teams in Philippine cinema, remains intact and organic.

“Actually, hindi rin naman alam (how it works), minsan nga may mga one take din kaming ginagawa,” Joshua said, stressing the natural flow of their onscreen partnership.

For Julia, this reunion felt like a homecoming of sorts. “I’m just grateful that we found this newly built kind of… parang lang kami umuwi sa friendship namin na I’m grateful for because it really helped… I don’t think coming into the project, I ever felt any sort of discomfort,” she reflected.

Ultimately, both Joshua and Julia believe that their past experiences as a love team shaped who they are today, both individually and as a duo.

When asked which version of JoshLia — then and now — do they like more, she said, “I think the JoshLia before shaped the JoshLia now, so I think they both need each other.”

“Kailangan natin pagdaanan yung JoshLia before to get to the JoshLia now,” said Joshua.

“Un/Happy for You” hits cinemas nationwide on Aug. 14.