Julia Barretto now an independently managed actress

MANILA, July 27 ------ Julia Barretto is entering a new chapter in her career as an independently managed actress, beginning with the 2026 Metro Manila Film Festival entry "Haunted Carnival." The horror-slasher also marks Barretto's first project with Regal Entertainment and her first on-screen collaboration with veteran actress Maricel Soriano.

"It's a good time in my life to be able to explore and work with everyone kasi lahat may magandang istorya, and gusto ko ma-grab opportunity na 'yun kapag naisip nila ako para sa proyekto," she said during the "Haunted Carnival" media junket in Quezon City on Sunday. "Wag natin gamitin iyung word na [freelancer] 'yun. Gamitin natin na open to opportunities," she added.

Barretto expressed deep appreciation to the management teams she has worked with throughout her career. She was last signed with Viva Artists Agency after leaving Star Magic. "I don't wanna burn bridges, you know why—sa lahat ng network, management, production house, naalagaan ako, naprotektahan ako, naging mabuti and sobra akong grateful," she said.

The actress still hopes to work on projects with Viva and ABS-CBN while also broadening the opportunities to work with a diverse range of artists and filmmakers. "Andun pa din iyung desire ko na makipag-trabaho sa lahat, from Viva to Star Cinema to Regal with all the production houses. Gusto kong patuloy pa rin iyong trabaho, basta naman may magandang storya," she noted.

Barretto revealed she intentionally took a brief break from acting following the success of her blockbuster film "Un/Happy for You" with Joshua Garcia. According to her, the experience helped her realize she wants to be more intentional in choosing her projects moving forward. "Ginusto kong mas maingat sa susunod kong gagawin. Gusto kong maging masaya sa proyekto na gagawin ko. I want to finish the project na fulfilled ako na may impact siya sa akin. So naghintay ako ng tamang timing. You just have to be patient, and God is good; dumating 'to and I have an exciting project also with this," she explained. "I guess timing is everything and everything happens for a reason; sometimes it's good to take a pause para malaman mo iyung direction na gusto mong puntahan," she added.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com