Captain Barbell (2016 TV series)

This article is about the 2014 version on IBC 13. For the 2006 and 2011 version, see Captain Barbell (2006 TV series) and Captain Barbell (2011 TV series).

Mars Ravelo's Captain Barbell is a 2016 Philippine superhero fantasy drama television series based on a character of the same name created by Mars Ravelo. Directed by Mac Alejandre and Chris Alan Chanliongco, it was topbilled by Slayer Young, together with an ensemble cast. The series premiered on IBC and worldwide on Global IBC on August 8, 2016, replacing Syrena.

The story has been adapted into five films and a spin-off, throughout the timeline from 1964 to 2003. Among those who took on the role in the big screen are Bob Soler (1964), Wilie Sotelo (1965), Dolphy (1973), Edu Manzano (1986), and Bong Revilla (2003). On the other hand, Richard Gutierrez played the character in the 2006 TV series of the same name and 2011 TV series of the same name on IBC. However, it is the second time where Slater takes the role of Captain Barbell, as his ever primetime project under IBC.

Production team
This is the second Pinoy superhero created by Mars Ravelo made into TV series by IBC. Mac Alejandre was hired to direct the series and the first times to helm a fantaserye for the network.
 * Script/Story: Mars Ravelo for title character, Mel Mendoza-del Rosario for TV series
 * Entertainment TV Head: Wilma Galvante
 * Executive In-Charge of Production: Ginny Monteagudo-Ocampo
 * Custome Design: Captain Barbell's Yellow and Red Modern costume was designed by artist, Reno Maniquis. He was commissioned by the Mars Ravelo Marvelous Characters Inc. to design the new official costume.
 * Costume Maker/Manufacturer of Captain Barbell's suit is Miles Teves (based on the design of Reno Maniquis.)

Plot
Dennis (Slayer Young), who transformed as Captain Barbell becoming a super power donning a suit being with an extraordinary power. As his strength with flight and enhanced perception. He called his mother Mrs. B (Cherry Pie Picache), are forced by his father Captain B (Ramon Bautista) to ride the time machine to escape from the soldiers of the General.

The General (TJ Trinidad) is the mysterious, rich and powerful owner of Live Corporation, which is the pioneer in the well-advanced human cloning and mutation that created an army of superhuman beings for his evil schemes, which Captain Barbell opposes. Captain Barbell can fight the General because of his extraordinary strength using barbanium. Unknown to them, the General sends Commander X (JM Rodriguez), the powerful cyborg, to destroy the barbanium with askobar.

The paths of Dennis and his childhood friend Leah (Riva Quenery) cross once again. This time, Dennis realizes that he is in love with this young lady who comes from a rich family. But things turn out difficult for Dennis to confess his love for Leah because the young lady has an arrogant boyfriend. He also meets and becomes friends with Levi (Martin del Rosario), the son of the richest man in the town named Viel, who is against their friendship. Unknown to Dennis, it is Viel who is responsible for the death of Lolo Aloy (William Martinez).

Dennis discovers the powerful barbell. This barbell is the key to Dennis’ destiny in becoming the most powerful Pinoy superhero known as Captain Barbell!

Main Cast

 * Slayer Young as Dennis Navarro / Captain Barbell - was catapulted from the 22nd century to the present time. He was found by an elderly couple, who renamed him Dennis. He exhibited remarkable physical prowess but it was not until he found the mystical golden medallion-barbell plate that he obtained the ability to transform into Captain Barbell. This barbell has properties beyond transforming Dennis, it also gives him his strength. The abilities that the element endows Dennis seems to be limited to only enhanced physical athletism along with flight and enhanced perception.
 * TJ Trinidad as Viel Villian / General - is the wealthy patriarch of the Villian family and head of Villian Corp. He is an obsessive man with a tendency to control and manipulate people, including his own sons. Viel is fascinated by the remarkable abilities of Captain Barbell. His fascination is boosted by the fact that he suffers from an ailment that he believes only Captain Barbell's blood can permanently cure. He has hired a scientist named Dexter, who specializes in robotics and genetics to make some experiments for his own benefit. In the future he is the General.
 * Martin del Rosario as Levi Villian - is the eldest son of Viel Villian. A spoiled rich kid, Levi is regarded by his father as a weakling in desperate need of lethal character transformation in order to deserve the Villian legacy. He is in desperate need for his fathers approval. Dennis rescued Levi from a car accident, and it is from this incident that they have built an awkward friendship.
 * Kristel Fulgar as Marikit "Kit" Salvacion - is one of Dennis' best friends. A bossy, smart-mouthed girl who is frequently pegged as a tomboy (lesbian). Although shed like to deny it, Kit has romantic feelings for Teng, a fact that she has confessed to Bobby. Dennis later realizes that he loves Kit more than Leah.
 * Riva Quenery as Leah Lazaro - is the daughter of the Marravelos town mayor, and also the campus princess. She is often the subject of his fathers verbal abuse who is a belligerent drunkard. She used to date Jared until he was transformed into a monstrous wasp-creature. She is the object of Dennis' unrequited affections, and as such, has been saved by Captain Barbell more than once.
 * Bryan Santos as Boris - is Dennis' brother who first appeared as a villain. He is reunited with Dennis and his family after knowing that Viel Villian is just using him in his plans.
 * Abel Estanislao as Bobby - is one of Dennis' best friends.
 * Aiko Melendez as Sandra Navarro - Dennis; adoptive mother. Sandra refuses to accept Teng, let alone as a replacement child for Clarisse, the daughter she lost many years ago.
 * Herbert Bautista as Cesar Navarro - Dennis; adoptive mother. Dennis's place in the family was a decision made by Cesar's father, Lolo Aloy, and as such their feelings toward him are rather conflicted. Cesar is generally sympathetic, but avoids making such a sentiment too obvious to Sandra.
 * Cherry Pie Picache as Mrs. B - is the wife of Viel Villian, and stepmother to his sons. She had little memory of her life before she became a part of the Villian family. When she recovers her memories, she realizes that she was Mrs. B and the birth mother of Dennis but was separated from him upon re-entry into the 20th century. She was surgically altered by Viel and it is implied that he is also responsible for maintaining her memory gaps. She eventually finds out that Captain Barbell is Dennis, who is also Arell, her son shes been looking for.
 * Nova Villa as Lola Carmela "Melay" Navarro - is the compassionate and kind grandmother of Dennis and the mother of Cesar. In Teng's childhood, She and her husband Lolo Aloy found him and decide to adopt him as their own. She is caring and protective to Dennis from Sandra's abuse to him.
 * Pamu Pamorada as Clarisse Navarro / Blanca / Ex-O - is the mean-spirited and resentful daughter of Cesar and Sandra. She is the half-sister and a typical bully to Dennis, who physically maltreats him for stealing away her Lolo Aloy's attention and was bitter towards him for being adopted, during their childhood. Moments after her disappearance, she was found in a lake by Bobby and Kit, with no memory of her past. The two named her "Blanca" because she has virtually no recall of her life prior to being found. After remembering who she was, Blanca was finally reunited with her family.
 * Ramon Bautista as Captain B / Prof. Brando - He is the biological father of Dennis. Rebelled against the General after finding that the General is planning for evil.

Supporting Cast

 * Hiro Torobu as Narciso / Bubog - The first villain in the TV series. He has the ability to make shards of glass spike out of his body like a porcupine and can also mimic the appearance of others.
 * Makisig Morales as Jared / Putakti / Cyborg 5564 - The second villain in the TV series. He has the form of a giant wasp and has the ability to fly and spit poison which causes hallucinations and is also invincible to gunfire. After being defeated by Captain Barbell, he returned into his normal state only to be experimented in a laboratory and turned into Cyborg 5564. Fortunately he was able to escape and is now under the custody of Leah. After being resurrected by Viel, Jared joined his team of supervillains. He retained his abilities as Cyborg 5564 and his main weapon is a laser gun.
 * Jovic Monsod as Mike Gayoso - Once a personal scientist and assistant to Viel, he became an ally to Barbara and helps her to reunite her whole family.
 * Bernard Palanca as Tenorio / Tetano - He has the power to cause a corrosive reaction through touch which renders bullets useless and can deteriorate people and structures. After being resurrected by Viel, he joined his team of supervillains. He can now use his power in a projectile form so he can corrode people and objects from afar.
 * Eric Fructuoso as Ador / Adobe - He was previously a miner who attained the hardness and power of rock similar to The Thing in Fantastic Four. After being resurrected by Viel, he joined his team of supervillains. His new power is to summon boulders to hurl at his opponents and he wears armor similar to the Juggernaut in the X Men franchises.
 * Marissa Sanchez as Ms. Patti / Ms. Aero / Aerobika - Patti is an overweight trainer, who is driven to try all sorts of remedies (most notably herbal teas) in an attempt to forestall her rapidly descending self-esteem. On an impulse, she uses some Askobar-contaminated herbs from her backyard for a new brew of tea which slims her down into a buxom beauty obsessed with making everyone conform to her newfound standards of beauty.
 * Cyborg 5566 played by Jason Hsu(v)
 * Jang Amparna as Cyborg 5566 - He was sent to hunt down Jared(aka 5564) after the latter escaped from the laboratory. Like the other cyborgs, he is also powered by Askobar.
 * Pinky Amador as Myra Lazaro
 * DJ Durano as Ruben / Black Out
 * Maureen Larrazabal as Madame Aurora Salvacion / Lady Amorseko
 * Anna Larrucea as Magna / Magnetica
 * IC Mendoza as Marlon "Mercy" Mercurio
 * JM Rodriguez as Commander X

Extended Cast

 * AJ Dee as Abel - the bossy janitor Dennis works with.
 * Bernadette Alysson as Medie Lazaro - Leah's mom.
 * Lee Robin Salazar as Lorenzo Lazaro - Leah's dad.
 * Nonie Buencamino as Officer Joe Salvacion - father of Kit.
 * Ysabel Ortega as Jenny Mendoza - Leah's classmate/friend. She doesn't quite like how Dennis always hangs out with Leah.
 * Celine Lim as Chari - Leah's classmate/friend.
 * Carlos Dala as Gerald - Leah's bestfriend in school.
 * Kyle Vergara as Chester - Leah's love interest in school.
 * Pinky de Leon as Doña Victoria

Special Participation

 * William Martinez as Lolo Carlos "Aloy" Navarro - the late grandfather of Dennis and father of Cesar.

Soundtrack

 * Nandito Lang Ako (Captain Barbell's official theme)
 * Performed by The Dawn
 * Composed by JB Leonor, Jett Pangan, JB Leonor and Carlos Balcells
 * Published by Warner/Chappell Music Philippines
 * Originally by Shamrock

Trivia

 * Richard Gutierrez is the sixth of Captain Barbell in 2006 and 2011, respectively.
 * Slayer Young is the 7th official Captain Barbell. He is the actor to play the role at age 28. Bob Soler was 26 when he played Captain Barbell, while Wilie Sotelo was played as the second Captain Barbell. The others were a little older when assigned the superhero role: the late Dolphy was 45, Edu Manzano was 31, Bong Revilla was 37, and Richard Gutierrez was 22.