'Forgotten Island' Stars H.E.R. and Liza Soberano on Giving Filipino Culture Its "Flowers"

Published Sep 25, 2026, 10:56 AM EDT Meredith Loftus is a TV Lists Editor at Collider. As part of the Lists team, she creates both trending and evergreen list topics in order to engage Collider's active audience. Prior to this, she was a Features Author focused on both movie and TV topics. In addition to her editing role, she has covered major events for Collider, including San Diego Comic-Con and D23. Meredith has also conducted interviews with creatives across the entertainment industry. Some of her favorites include Margot Robbie, Luke Thompson, Yerin Ha, Gilmore Girls' Scott Patterson, Jon M. Chu, and the cast of Superman & Lois. Summary Forgotten Island celebrates brave female friendship and the bittersweet risk of forgetting as friends grow. The film lovingly spotlights Filipino culture, traditions, food, and making people feel seen back home. H.E.R.'s original song "BRB" channels '80s synth vibes; the film blends nostalgic music with magical adventure. "Don't stop believin'. Hold on to the feelin'." These iconic lyrics from Journey are the mantra to DreamWorks' latest movie, Forgotten Island. Set in the Philippines, the original movie centers on two best friends — Jo (H.E.R.) and Raissa (Liza Soberano) — on the eve of a big move when they find the legendary island of Nakali, a place they had dreamed of finding since they were kids. The longer they stay and interact with Nakali's mystical creatures, the more they risk forgetting each other. With the stylish flair of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish directors and a supporting cast featuring the likes of Dave Franco and Jenny Slate, Forgotten Island is a high-octane magical adventure for all ages. Ahead of the movie's release, Collider's Meredith Loftus sat down with the film's stars, H.E.R. and Liza Soberano, to discuss their original movie. For a movie about the power of memories, the two actors look back on the memories they made while making and promoting the film. Plus, H.E.R. shares some insight into creating one of the movie's original songs, "BRB." You can watch the full interview in the video above, or you can read the transcript below. H.E.R. and Liza Soberano Praise 'Forgotten Island's Originality and Themes "It's important for young women to see bravery." Image via DreamWorks Animation COLLIDER: This movie is such a celebration of female friendship and this unique period of transition for friends. For each of you, why do you think it's important to show this challenge and milestone on-screen to audiences? LIZA SOBERANO: Well, I feel like in a day and age where everybody's kind of telling everybody what to feel, think, or who to associate themselves with, it's nice to just have a movie or a project or a piece of art, where it's literally just inviting people to come and experience the culture and the dynamics of the relationships for themselves without us trying to take a position on anything. You see Jo and Raissa, and you hear about their stories and their upbringing; and immediately anyone I feel like who watches it, always says that they're transported back to a particular memory with their best friend or with somebody that they really love and care about. I think that's the magic of this film. It allows you to escape for a moment and relive wonderful memories. H.E.R.: It's so important to see women empowering each other and having a bit of tension in their relationship to show what truly makes a real friendship and what makes a friendship strong. I'm just so happy to see an original story about two women going on an adventure together. I think it's important for young women to see bravery. I love that both Jo and Raissa are brave and unique individuals themselves, but they've come to really rely on each other from years of being best friends. What do you think Jo and Raissa teach each other in order to prepare them for this next chapter into adulthood? H.E.R.: I have a friend who is a therapist, and he always says the thing that bothers you the most about your best friend or your partner is the thing you think you lack. And that really reminds me of their friendship, because we are opposites in some ways, and I think it's because we bring different sides out of each other and sort of balance each other out and also... SOBERANO: It's like we highlight each other's strengths and then make up for each other's weaknesses. H.E.R.: Exactly, exactly, exactly. Man, that is such a great therapist nugget right there. H.E.R.: I love that, yeah. SOBERANO: I need to write that down later. You need to write that down. I have therapy tomorrow. I'm going to be like, "OK, let's talk about this." H.E.R.: Exactly, exactly. H.E.R. and Liza Soberano Reflect on Their "Important" Trip to the Philippines "This film did a great job of highlighting all the beautiful aspects of our culture that sometimes we may tend to forget." There are also so many great lines and such a significance on memory. "We'll always be together if we remember." What's a memory from Forgotten Island that you hope carries on with you as time goes on? H.E.R.: Us being in the Philippines was such an important moment. It took a lot for us to get there, and we're so appreciative that we could go back and celebrate the movie with the inspiration for the movie. So that's a memory that I'll never forget. It was crazy. It was chaotic. SOBERANO: I remember after screening the movie, a lot of people came up to me in the Philippines, and they were like, "I'm even more proud, I'm proud to be a Filipino now." It shocked me when they said that because I feel like when you're in the culture, when you're in the country, it's hard to embrace and find beauty in your own culture because you're living it every day. This film did a great job of highlighting all the beautiful aspects of our culture that sometimes we may tend to forget or overlook just because it's so common in our everyday [lives]. I'm so glad that Joel [Crawford] and Januel [Mercado] and all the performers were able to capture that and give the Filipino people their flowers and just tell them how important they are and make them feel seen. I want to hold onto that memory forever, just the memory of making people feel seen and special. For each of you, what is a piece of Filipino culture that's in the movie that really means the most to you or is that connected to a specific memory? H.E.R.: Where do we begin? Jesus on the wall. The petroleum jelly. Pointing with the lips. SOBERANO: Oh yeah, the pointing with the lips. All the moments with Lola (Dolly de Leon) when she throws her slipper across the building to another lady. H.E.R.: The food. SOBERANO: The food. H.E.R.: There's baye baye in Kakaiba, I think. All the details are so well done and authentic. How Did H.E.R. and Ryan Tedder Collaborate for 'Forgotten Island's Original Song? "It is a nod to that era." Image via DreamWorks Animation Speaking of Lola, I love that "Don't Stop Believin'" was the anthem for Raissa, Jo, and Lola. If you had to pick a '80s or '90s power ballad for yourself to be your own personal anthem, what would you choose? H.E.R.: Ooh, that's a tough one. That's a tough one. I'm thinking of more Journey songs right now, and I was just listening to "Survivor" literally yesterday morning. SOBERANO: I want to say "Don't Stop Believin'" because ever since I've been hearing that, it's been playing a lot in our minds because of the movie. I feel like it's the mantra for not only Jo and Raissa, but also for my own personal life. I've just been a dreamer ever since I was a little girl, and even being here now and being part of this film is a huge dream come true for me. So I want to say that's the song. H.E.R.: Yeah, ooh. I don't know, that's tough. That's really tough. SOBERANO: I know you know a lot of amazing '80s and '90s songs. H.E.R.: Yeah, I don't know how to pick one. I'm not going to pick one from that era. I'm going to pick our song "BRB" because it is a nod to that era. I think with the help of Ryan Tedder, he really nailed that sound. We use the same keyboards and analog things that they used in that music. So our song is, to me, an anthem right now. I'm so excited to go back and make my own friendship bracelet. H.E.R.: Nice! I didn't know that was happening. That is happening, so try and schedule that in. If you can make a friendship bracelet of different projects of yours from the past, which ones will get charms on the bracelet? H.E.R.: Oh, I love that. Maybe my first project for sure is getting [one]. My first music project, my self-titled album, because it's the thing that started it all. That would definitely get a charm on there. And this one, of course. SOBERANO: I would say this one. Obviously, I would have the manananggal. I think Forevermore was my first lead role in a TV show back home in the Philippines, so I'd add a little strawberry because I was a strawberry farmer. H.E.R.: That's so cute. Wait, so if you had the Manang (Lea Salonga) charm, which half would you want: the legs or the body or the head? SOBERANO: I think I would want the head just because I would have to explain to people what the legs mean. H.E.R.: True. I'll do the explaining. I'll take the legs. Forgotten Island releases exclusively in theaters September 25, 2026. Forgotten Island Release Date September 25, 2026 Runtime 109 Minutes Director Joel Crawford, Januel Mercado Writers Joel Crawford, Januel Mercado Cast Liza Soberano Raissa (voice) Lea Salonga The Dreaded Manananggal (voice)