KUALA LUMPUR: Dashing actor Bront Palarae is delighted to mark his debut in an HBO production, Halfworlds.
Bront, 36, whose real name is Nasrul Suhaimin Saifuddin, said he plays a detective named Gusti who is “stuck between the world of humans and demons”.
The Alor Setar-born actor, who is travelling to Batam, Indonesia on Thursday to shoot the series, is the first Malaysian to star in an HBO series.
Halfworlds is directed by Joko Anwar and co-written by Anwar and Colin Chang. Co-produced by HBO and Infinite Studios, it also stars Indonesian actor Ario Bayu who played the republic’s first President Sukarno in the film Soekarno: Indonesia Merdeka last year.
“The story is largely set in a bar, in a seedy part of Jakarta, where humans and demons interact. It has elements of family, romance and crime rolled into one,” said Bront, 36, adding that he couldn’t divulge more details about the show.
The award-winning actor, producer and director is best known for the films Anak Halal, Man Laksa, Bilut, 1957 Hati Malaya, Kala Malam Bulan Mengambang, Belukar, Ombak Rindu, Bunohan and Jiwa Taiko.
Bront said his character will have “quite an adventure” throughout the series. He is honoured to co-star with Ario, who he said “nailed the character of Sukarno” in the biography film. Ario also starred in acclaimed film Java Heat two years ago.
Bront is not the only Malaysian on board, as award-winning young actress Puteri Balqis Azizi was cast in a supporting role.
Filming is currently underway and will take two months to complete. The eight-episode series is expected to be screened on HBO before the year end.