Rain - Jung Ji-hoon - P
APSEOUL – After a two-year career break, South Korean pop star-actor Rain is gearing up for a global comeback.
The 31-year-old talent spent 21 months from 2011 to 2013 away from the spotlight, serving compulsory military service in Korea, a requirement for all men in the country. But he’ll soon be back on movie screens around the world.
Rain (a.k.a. Jung Ji-hoon) has just wrapped shooting director Brian A. Miller‘s thriller, The Prince, in which he will appear opposite Bruce Willis and John Cusack. On Wednesday, Rain’s agency Cube DC announced that he has booked his debut role in the world’s second-largest and fastest-growing film market — China.
VIDEO: ‘Frozen’-Crazy South Korea Spawns Countless K-pop Covers of ‘Let It Go’
Rain is slated to appear in an upcoming melodrama from director Gao Xixi. The title of the upcoming film has yet to be decided and production will begin in Shanghai in mid-March, the agency said.
He will play the male lead, a passionate painter and heir to one of South Asia’s largest industries. Popular Chinese screen star Liu Yifei will appear as his romantic interest.
One of the most popular male stars in Asia, Rain gained international stardom through Korean TV soap opera roles. On the big screen he has appeared in the Wachowskis’ Speed Racer and Ninja Assassin.
PHOTOS: Korea Box Office 2013: Top 10 Movies
“Rain has so far shown a rather masculine appeal through tough hero characters in Hollywood films ranging from Ninja Assassin to The Prince. But his upcoming film will allow him to completely transform him screen image,” said his agency.
Meanwhile, Rain is slated to hold a showcase for his latest album at Beijing’s National Stadium on March 28. “Rain Effect,” of which major tracks “30 Sexy” and “La Song” have topped K-pop charts, is his first album in nearly four years.
