Richard Gutierrez | Photography by Oly Ruiz of Metrophoto for Brands

Richard Gutierrez has carved a niche in local showbiz’s action scene, and now, he further cements his place in that landscape with his new series Incognito. Following the success of his last drama-action series The Iron Heart, he’s buckled up and took on yet another project that feels familiar yet fresh at the same time. 

For one, Richard is again working with director Lester Pimentel Ong, who was also at the helm of his previous series. “I’m blessed to be working with the same team as my last show, The Iron Heart. And we wanted to develop a concept that’s more of an ensemble, a group of characters who will do action,” he told Metro.Style. “And we wanted to elevate the action series again in the Philippines.” 

Related: Bold New Year: Kicking Off 2025 With the Star-Studded Cast of ‘Incognito’

For Richard, his work in Incognito didn’t start when he got the script. He had a significant part in helping shape the story of an elite private military company that works with the government on sensitive cases. It is, after all, a dream plot for this actor.

Richard recalled the time the series was pitched to him in ABS-CBN in the presence of its writers and producers. “They made us visualize the concept, the bigness of the show, and what we wanted to achieve. And right there and then, I accepted it because I knew it was going to be a good project. And I was going to be working with a great team. I’d be working with great actors.”

“It’s different,” Richard quipped when asked how he sets Incognito apart from the other action projects he’s done before. He said, “First of all, this is an ensemble cast. Big actors, big names, and everybody doing different kinds of action scenes.”

Richard plays the role of Jose Bonifacio, an ex-military special forces agent who’s been through many wars and battles. The series also stars Daniel Padilla, Baron Geisler, Anthony Jennings, Maris Racal, Kaila Estrada, and Ian Veneracion whose characters deal with their own battles.

Incognito also felt different for Richard because he was used to individual training for action scenes. This time, however, the cast did it as a team since they’re also designed to work and operate as a team in the show. So, their movements needed to be cohesive and in sync to create seamless and believable scenes. 

These talented actors coming together in a project also mirrors how their characters, who come from different backgrounds and have different sets of skills, have gathered to complete a task and accomplish a mission. It boils down to a showcase of teamwork and professionalism, only interwoven in an over-the-top narrative and grand production. 

(From left) Incognito cast members Richard Gutierrez (as Jose Bonifacio), Baron Geisler (as Miguel Tecson), Ian Veneracion (as Gregorio Paterno), Anthony Jennings (as Tomas Guerrero), and Daniel Padilla (as Andres Malvar)

“It’s similar to a normal workspace,” Richard observed. “You know, you get to work with different kinds of people from different backgrounds. So, it’s very relatable in the sense that it’s just about human connection. And how do you work with a team? Even if you don’t like that person or even if you like that person, how do you work together? So, ’yun ’yung maipapakita rin ng Incognito.”

In the first few episodes, Incognito showcased the beauty of the Philippines, particularly Palawan. It’s also no secret that the cast and crew flew to Europe to shoot in Matera, Italy, contributing to the international feel of the proudly Pinoy production. But as Richard hinted, their effort to push boundaries doesn’t end there. Richard shared, “We also wanted to showcase different countries in this series. So, we will be traveling for this series and doing action scenes in other countries to uplift our series visually also.” Where Incognito is taking these actors is another thing worth looking forward to as the episodes unfold.

With the ideal combination of striking visuals, powerful storytelling, and remarkable acting from each cast member, it’s no wonder Incognito made a strong debut last January 17 when it premiered on Netflix Philippines, becoming the top TV show on the platform shortly after its release. When it premiered on Kapamilya Online Live on YouTube last Monday, January 20, it also garnered 585,973 peak concurrent viewers.

“Obviously, marami pa akong different projects, different roles na gusto kong gawin in the future,” Richard said. But for now, his plate is full and Incognito takes up a significant portion of that plate because of how passionate he is about doing a great job with their job order—that is, to elevate the action genre in the Philippine entertainment scene. With this formidable team, consider it done.

Related: 'Beyond My Expectations'—'Incognito' Reignites Ian Veneracion's Passion for the Action Genre

Related: High-Octane Series 'Incognito' Sees Kaila Estrada Dabbling In the Action Genre for the First Time

Related: 'Incognito' Showcases a Different Side of Baron Geisler as an Actor

Related: Anthony Jennings Delivers Action, Heart, and Humor in 'Incognito'

Related: "Fashion Meets Action"—Maris Racal Takes on a Fab and Fierce Role in 'Incognito'

Related: "A Breath of Fresh Air"—'Incognito' Takes Actor Daniel Padilla to New Heights

Incognito is now available for streaming on Netflix and iWantTFC. Catch new episodes from Monday to Friday at 8:45 PM on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, Jeepney TV, and TV5.

Photography by Oly Ruiz of Metrophoto for Brands

Metro Head: Christina N. Lopez

Editor-in-chief: Geolette Esguerra

Sittings editors: Grace Libero-Cruz and Randz Manucom

Fashion associate: Carla Buyo

Creative direction by Chookie Cruz 

Styling by David Milan

Grooming by Aron Guevarra

Hairstyling by Chino Maniquiz

Videographer: Pat Buenaobra

Interviewers: Ryan Christopher Claveria and Leigh Sofia Lazo

Shoot assistant: Princes del Corro

Shoot coordination: Noella Fonbuena and Red Dimaandal

Shot on location at Ascott Bonifacio Global City

Special thanks to Star Creatives