The 2007 adaptation of Marimar was one of the most highly anticipated remakes, arriving 11 years after the Tagalized version of Thalía's iconic telenovela, which cemented the Latina singer-actress as a global superstar. It had a similar effect on Marian Rivera, catapulting her to stardom and even leading to a real-life romance and marriage with her on-screen leading man.
However, the 2015 Marimar fell short of expectations. GMA released it at the height of KathNiel's Pangako Sa'yo reboot, one of the highest-rated shows of all time. Hoping to rekindle the magic, the network cast Miss World 2013 and former StarStruck alumna Megan Young in the titular role, alongside Tom Rodriguez as Sergio Santibañez. Yet, despite the effort, this iteration struggled to recapture the same impact and cultural relevance as its predecessors.
This version introduced new characters that were absent in the 2007 adaptation, likely to add an element of surprise. In this retelling, Angelika Santibañez is portrayed as older than Marimar, and she conspires with another villain-her own daughter, played by Lauren Young. However, Megan Young's noticeably enhanced face, full of fillers, made her portrayal of Marimar less convincing. It was difficult to believe that she was raised uneducated in the province when her surgically refined features were so apparent in certain scenes. Unlike the natural provincial beauty of Marian Rivera and Thalía in previous versions, Megan's appearance often broke the illusion of authenticity.
Some cast members also seemed to force themselves to speak Spanish for no clear reason, adding unnecessary awkwardness. Meanwhile, Tom Rodriguez's performance as Sergio often felt unintentionally comical, lacking the same fiery passion that Dingdong Dantes brought to the role in 2007.
It's almost impossible not to compare the two versions. Yet, despite some awkward moments and a poorly reimagined storyline, Cannes Film Festival winner Jaclyn Jose and Lauren Young delivered incredible performances as the main antagonists, elevating the series from start to finish.
