South Korean pop star Rain likely to debut in Wachowski film

Photo: South Korean pop star Rain likely to debut in Wachowski film

Wachowski brothers will star South Korean pop music idol Rain in their new action adventure film “Speed racer” in his Hollywood debut, his manager said.

Rain, who draws a huge audience throughout Asia with his sculpted body and dance moves, is "in positive" negotiations with the filmmaker, said the manager, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet completed.

He said Rain's participation in the movie - based on "Mach Go Go," a 1960s Japanese animated series about car racing - will be announced "soon." He declined to give further details.

Andy and Larry Wachowski, creators of "The Matrix" movies, plan to shoot the new film in Germany this summer and Warner Bros. plans to release it in May next year, the manger said.

Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, played a lead role in the 2006 South Korean film "I'm a Cyborg, but that's OK" directed by Park Chan-wook.