Playing the lead roles of Ace and Zein in the upcoming series Hell University still feels “surreal” for young actors Zeke Polino and Heart Ryan, their first time starring in a series adaptation.
The two will headline Viva One’s upcoming adaptation of KnightInBlack’s Wattpad novel, which has more than 179 million reads. Zeke and Heart both admit they’re still processing what it means to bring such well-loved characters to life.
For Heart, the moment she found out she booked the role is something she still holds close. She recalled getting the call from her handler and said even now, it doesn’t quite feel real.
“I still can’t believe it even until now. It’s really hard to believe. When I got the announcement, I got it directly from [my handler]. I was actually on the phone, and when she told me, I cried. I don’t know how to explain,” Heart told Manila Standard Entertainment.
She also added that Hell University was the kind of project she only dreamed about joining when she first started acting. Bringing Zein to the screen, she said, comes with excitement and a bit of fear but mostly gratitude.
Zeke, meanwhile, learned the news in a way he didn’t expect. He said the reality of being cast as Ace is something he’s still trying to process.
“Till right now, everything still feels really like a dream. I still can’t believe it, but it slowly starts to sink in, especially with the media conference and everything like that,” Zeke explained.
He vividly remembers the exact moment the news came.
“I still very much remember yung time na na-cover yung news. It was around 12:00 a.m. while I was about to sleep, and then my manager called me and said, ‘Zeke, you’re going to be Ace,’” he shared.
He said the weight of playing Ace Craige sank in only during their early workshops, where he began breaking down the character’s emotions, history, and guarded nature.
Both actors said the pressure is real—not only because Hell University has a massive online following, but also because the characters are already deeply rooted in their readers’ imaginations.
“The pressure is there, but I focus on what I can do. I’m doing my best to give justice to Ace,” Zeke said.
Heart echoed the sentiment, saying she tries to stay grounded by remembering why she pursued acting in the first place.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve been doing my best to pursue acting, and sometimes it really felt overwhelming. There were times I felt like I had nowhere to turn, especially when I was juggling school, work, and auditions,” the actress shared.
“But now, looking back, I realize that all of those struggles made me stronger. They reminded me why I started in the first place. Those moments keep me grounded,” she added.
Preparation was crucial for the two, who spent weeks in workshops to shape their characters and build chemistry. Heart said it helped her grasp Zein’s emotions, while Zeke credited director Bobby Bonifacio Jr. for guiding him to play Ace with sincerity. They described the workshops as intense but rewarding.
