RAYVER Cruz celebrates his birthday on July 20 and the showing of his new movie, “The Cheating Game” with Julie Anne San Jose, is on July 26, so consider it as his special birthday presentation. Rayver is seen regularly on “All Out Sundays” and he just hosted the last season of “The Clash”.

On the big screen, he was last seen in the film “On the Job: The Missing 8” in 2021 where he played a supporting role. Now, he plays the male lead in “The Cheating Game”. Rayver’s career really took a turn for the better when he chose to be a Kapuso.

Aside from “All Out Sundays” and “The Clash” where he gets to show his singing and dancing talents, he also gets to do drama in such hit TV series as “Asawa Ko Karibal Ko”, “Hanggang sa Dulo ng Buhay Ko”, “Nagbabagang Luha” and “Bolera”. As one colleague says: “Sa GMA, lead roles ang nakukuha niya at never siyang nababakante.”

And now, he has a new movie. What is his role?

“I play Miguel Agustin,” says Rayver. “I’m a self-made businessman and when I meet Julie Anne as Hope Celestial, we quickly warm up to each other. But as we become closer, some long kept secrets start to surface that kinda spoil our budding relationship.”

There’s no doubt that Rayver and Julie Anne have unmistakable chemistry. You can see this in the videos they post on social media where they do jamming sessions, dance covers and their sweet moments that make everyone so kilig.

This was also evident in their last year’s concert, “JulieVerse”, where they sweetly professed their love for each other. Their fans are now eager to see them act together on the big screen.

“We’re both so excited and very happy na mapapalabas na ang movie namin which we started to shoot in 2020 pa but the pandemic came,” he says. “I enjoyed making the movie kasi doing it is a learning experience for me para maging aware ka how to handle being cheated. Lahat naman tayo, nabubulag kapag nagmahal tayo. So when you’re cheated, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. It’ll help para mas tumibay ka. I enjoyed making this movie with everyone kasi nag-jive kami agad lahat. Masaya ‘yung grupo namin led by direk Rod Marmol. And I’m so proud of Julie Anne in this movie. Sobrang galing niya. She’s good as Maria Clara, pero ibang-iba ang Julie Anne na mapapanood nyo. Gugulatin niya kayo.”

“The Cheating Game” is a fascinating, deep dive into the psyche of two individuals who have both been cheated before and now react differently to betrayal. It also unveils how things play out in a social media hub that moonlights as a troll factory.

The film packs a powerhouse cast that includes Martin del Rosario as Brian Villogo; Winwyn Marquez as Vanessa; Yayo Aguila as Faith Celestial; Candy Pangilinan as Tita Gelly; Phi Palmos as Joi Celestial; Thea Tolentino as Natalie; and Paolo Contis as Mister Y.

Also included in the star-studded cast are Charm Aranton, Chef Jose Sarasola, Charlize Ruth Reyes, Roce Ordoñez, Aaron Maniego, Andrea So, Ida Sabido, Evan Tan, Roi Oriondo, Bernadette Anne Morales, and Felds Cabagting.

Directed by best-selling author Rod Marmol, with the original story written by Shao Masula, ‘The Cheating Game’ sheds light on various red flags in relationships and the different stages of grief after one is cheated.

It also presents a more mature, relatable, and realistic side to modern-day dating and also infidelity, in the era of the internet. So let the games begin, as “The Cheating Game” hits theaters nationwide next month on July 26.