Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? reboot titled "Rangga & Cinta" to be musical, with Nicholas Saputra as co-producer
Die-hard fans of the franchise will be ecstatic to know that Nicholas Saputra, actor of the iconic Rangga in the original 2002 film, will still play a vital role in the reboot: returning not as an actor, but a co-producer.
MEDINA ONN03 Mar 2025 03:35pm
The cast of Rangga & Cinta at the musical's press conference and cast reveal in Jakarta on Friday.
Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? is a timeless coming-of-age story that, at its core, is about community.
While the film carries all the hallmarks of a classic romance, it doesn’t shy away from tackling grittier themes such as domestic abuse, government corruption, and—most notably—the growing pains of entering young adulthood.
Die-hard fans of the franchise will be ecstatic to know that Nicholas Saputra, actor of the iconic Rangga in the original 2002 film, will still play a vital role in the reboot: returning not as an actor, but a co-producer.
Teaming up with the heads of Miles Films, director Riri Riza and producer Mira Lesmana, the 2025 reboot Rangga & Cinta will be a musical romance drama: retelling the timeless love story between Rangga and Cinta with a melodic twist.
In an exclusive interview with CNN Indonesia, producer Mira Lesmana explained how one of the biggest motivations behind the revival of Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? was to “present a new generation of the Indonesian film industry."
"Indeed, from the beginning, one of the reasons we wanted to retell the story was [because] Riri, Nicho and I chatted and felt that it was time to present new faces of our films for the future of Indonesian films.
“I think the (Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?) story is the most appropriate story because it is a story for the younger generation, teenagers, and the film is also well-known,” Mira said in a press conference in Central Jakarta recently.
It’s no overstatement to say that Miles Films is a giant in the Indonesian film industry. Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? peaked at 2.7 million sold tickets at the time of its release– but the company is far from a one hit wonder.
Responsible for several other box office hits such as Golden Cane Warrior (2014) and Laskar Pelangi (2008), their work has been recognised and celebrated on both a national and international level: competing in countless international film festivals, and winning over six Indonesian Film Festival awards over the course of their career.
We get our first look into the reboot on Feb 26 when Miles Films dropped the first-ever trailer of Rangga & Cinta on their social media platforms.
Every single casting was a decision that demanded intense and scrupulous deliberation, as recounted by co-director Nicholas Saputra in an interview with Tempo.
Nicholas noted how Miles Films had to sift through over 700 auditions before finally narrowing it down to the cast we have today– a gruelling process that took over six months to complete.
Calling this reboot anything but a labour of love would be a disservice.
In addition to spotlighting the young up-and-coming talents of Indonesia’s film industry, Miles Films also hoped to retell the story of Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? in a way that is accessible and relatable to the youth of today: validating and representing their struggles– reassuring you that you are seen; you’re heard.
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