Brenda Asnicar exploded when she found out that Juli Poggio would have her role in Patito Feo

The return of Patito Feo to the theater is already causing a stir, and not just among fans. Just days after it was announced that the youth telenovela, which was a sensation between 2007 and 2011, will return as a musical with new leading actresses, Brenda Asnicar, who played the iconic Antonella Lamas Bernardi, broke her silence with a mix of irony and nostalgia.

On the streaming show Había que decirlo, the actress addressed the production's decision to move forward with the project without her or Laura Esquivel, the other main star of the story.

"There's a new Antonella in the theater, it's all wrong. I keep being surprised", Asnicar said with a laugh, alluding to the character who will now be played by Julieta Poggio, former Gran Hermano contestant.

Despite the playful tone, the actress made it clear that she was not approached for any other role and that she was not interested in being part of the return either:  "They're planning to replace us and that's perfectly fine because we said no. We're also busy with our careers and our own things", she explained.

She added with a somewhat conciliatory tone: Both (the new leading actresses) are very talented people, the project is very beautiful and deserves to be well received. Enjoy it.

However, she could not avoid staking her claim with a phrase that went viral on social media: There's only one Antonella Lamas Bernardi, ok?.

Users quickly shared their opinions on the matter, fueling the controversy surrounding Patito Feo's return. 

"That's exactly what Antonella would say upon learning that Las Divinas have a new leader", "What she says is true. Besides, Julieta Poggio IS UGLY!" and "She said it as a joke but it's still true, there's only one Antonella and it's her." 

A return full of nostalgia and controversy

The new theatrical venture of Patito Feo began to take shape with a nostalgic marketing campaign that included banners on the streets of Buenos Aires with the phrase "Nadie pasa de esta esquina", part of the hit Gasolina performed by Las Divinas, the group led by Asnicar's character in the show.

The strategy caused anticipation, especially among those who grew up with the series, and fueled rumors about a possible return of the original cast.

However, the official announcement revealed that neither Brenda Asnicar nor Laura Esquivel will be part of the project. Their roles will be filled by Julieta Poggio and Albana Fuentes, who will play the new versions of Antonella and Patito, respectively.

The show, produced by Ideas del Sur and created by Marcela Citterio, was an international phenomenon that, in addition to its television success, drew more than two million spectators to its theatrical versions. This time, the return comes amid tensions between producers and unsolved conflicts. According to Adrián Pallares on Intrusos (América TV), "Laura Esquivel and Brenda Asnicar said no. One did not want to remain in the shadow of what once was, and the other turned down a million-dollar offer because she did not want to mortgage a year of her life."

Meanwhile, the original author, Marcela Citterio, was also reportedly sidelined from the new project, which added to the backstage discontent. The production, which includes Marcelo Tinelli, reignited old disputes with Alejandro Stoessel, a former partner in the show's creation, who was also a producer during the program's early years.