The soundtrack for the upcoming animated fantasy film Forgotten Island will feature a lineup of Filipino music heavyweights, including the pop groups BINI and SB19 alongside the internationally celebrated singer Lea Salonga. The collaboration was announced exclusively on Monday, setting the stage for a release that pairs the movie’s themes of memory and friendship with a distinctly Filipino musical identity.
Scheduled to hit theaters on September 16, 2026, the film follows high school graduates Jo and Raissa on their final night together before they are pulled through a mysterious portal to the island of Nakali. Their adventure quickly turns perilous when they learn that escaping comes at a devastating cost: the loss of every memory they share. The pair must navigate the fantastical landscape and its strange inhabitants before their bond is erased completely.
Januel Mercado directs the project, which boasts a voice cast headlined by H.E.R. as Jo and Liza Soberano as Raissa. Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, Jenny Slate, Dolly de Leon, and Jo Koy round out the ensemble, with Salonga voicing the antagonist known as The Dreaded Manananggal, a creature drawn from Philippine folklore. The film blends adventure, comedy, and family-friendly fantasy, aiming to appeal to both younger audiences and those nostalgic for the source material’s cultural roots.
A Soundtrack Bridging Pop and Tradition
The decision to bring BINI and SB19 into the fold marks a significant crossover between the country’s current pop scene and a mainstream animated release. Both acts have dominated charts and social media in the Philippines over the past several years, amassing devoted fan bases that the film’s producers are clearly hoping to tap into. Their inclusion suggests a soundtrack that will lean heavily on upbeat, radio-friendly pop, while Salonga’s involvement adds a layer of theatrical gravitas given her extensive career on Broadway and in international film.
Salonga, already a household name worldwide for her work in Miss Saigon and as the singing voice of Disney’s Mulan and Jasmine, brings a sense of prestige to the project. Her role as the villainous Manananggal - a shapeshifting monster in Filipino mythology - could allow for a more dramatic and operatic piece within the soundtrack. The contrast between her soaring vocals and the pop sensibilities of BINI and SB19 may well define the film’s musical range, moving from tender ballads to high-energy anthems as the story requires.
Cultural Authenticity at the Forefront
The creative team appears to be leaning into the film’s Filipino origins not just through the cast but through the music itself. Forgotten Island is not a typical Hollywood production; it centers on characters and creatures drawn from the archipelago’s rich storytelling traditions, and the soundtrack choice reinforces that commitment. By pairing globally recognized artists with homegrown pop acts, the filmmakers are signaling an intent to present Philippine culture to a broad international audience without diluting its specificity.
Mercado, whose previous work has been noted for its visual imagination, has described the project as a passion venture that aims to honor the myths he grew up with. The presence of creatures like the Bungi Tiyanak and the Batibat, both voiced by familiar comedic actors, suggests a world that is at once whimsical and rooted in genuine folklore. The music, then, becomes a narrative device in itself - a way to underscore the emotional stakes of Jo and Raissa’s journey as they fight against the erasure of their shared history.
A Race Against Forgetting
At its core, the film poses a poignant question: what would you sacrifice to return home? The plot’s central conflict is not a physical monster but the quiet threat of losing someone you love from your own mind. As Jo and Raissa search for an alternative to the island’s cruel bargain, the soundtrack will likely mirror the urgency and melancholy of their quest.
Whether the songs will be integrated into the narrative as diegetic moments - perhaps performed by characters or emanating from the island itself - remains unconfirmed. But with a release date just over a month away, promotional materials are expected to ramp up quickly, likely beginning with a lead single from one of the featured acts. Given the star power attached to the project, the soundtrack could easily achieve its own cultural moment independent of the film’s box office performance.
For now, fans of BINI, SB19, and Salonga have reason to mark their calendars. Forgotten Island is shaping up to be as much a musical event as a cinematic one, promising a fusion of pop energy and narrative depth that could resonate far beyond its Philippine origins.
Source: Variety
