Alden Richards Is Taking On His First Hollywood Role—And He's Gonna Be A Villain

After more than a decade of playing the hero, the romantic lead, and the everyman, Alden Richards is finally stepping into the dark side—and TBH, we are excited(!) for it. Asia's Multimedia Star is set to play a villain for the first time in the upcoming Hollywood action film Big Tiger, a role he says has been sitting on his bucket list forever.

"I have been dreaming about this, the bad guy," Richards shared during a press conference on December 21, 2025. "Iba, medyo disturbing kasi hindi ako sanay. But at the end of the day, when I saw the teaser—I think I am going to like this job."

In Big Tiger, Alden portrays John Lynch, a character that challenged him to explore unfamiliar emotional and physical terrain. From stunt preparations to mastering new body language and emotional depth, Alden embraced the opportunity to push his craft beyond comfort zones.

"Mas marami pwede laruin. At times the characterizations of antagonists, depending on the character, are quite eccentric and volatile," he said. "Good thing is I was guided by the director and writer."

Playing a villain also gave him creative freedom that most leading roles don't. The unpredictability and layered personality of antagonists gave Alden room to experiment and explore aspects of his acting he hadn't tapped before, a thrill he admits he's been waiting for.

Alden isn't just making moves in front of the camera—he's calling the shots behind it, too. He is also co-producing Big Tiger through his production company, Myriad Entertainment, marking its first international project. For Alden, the venture isn't just about expanding his own horizons; it's about creating opportunities for Filipino talent to shine on a global stage.

"When my team and I had an idea of creating a production company, it was centered on giving back to the industry. I'm hoping this partnership is an opportunity to give back to the Filipinos. For us to be proud of something we have," he said.

That pride is mutual. The international crew, Alden noted, has been full of praise for the Filipino team, reinforcing the value of showcasing homegrown talent to the world. "Most of the team from the US has nothing but good words. And nakakaproud naman maging Pilipino because of that," he added, reflecting on the experience.

Fresh off his successful fan meet, ARXV: Moving ForwARd, which celebrated 15 years in showbiz, he also dedicated time to charity work, marking his landmark anniversary with generosity and gratitude. This latest Hollywood venture adds yet another exciting chapter to his ever-evolving career, giving fans even more reasons to be hyped for what's coming next.

Directed and written by Keoni Waxman, Big Tiger also stars Byron Mann, Katherine McNamara, Luke Goss, and Kapuso actress Max Collins. The action-packed film is slated for a worldwide theatrical release in 2026.