Rain plays top henchman in The Prince

MANILA, Philippines - The Prince explodes in a series of scenes where the past finally catches up with long-time enemies Paul Brennan (Jason Patric) and Omar (Bruce Willis). Korean star Rain (photo) plays a skillful assassin working for Willis’ character.

Rain, known as a superstar musician in Asia, crossed over into acting with his debut in the hit South Korean series Sang-Doo (Let’s Go to School). He solidified his position as an actor with his lead role in Full House, and became recognized throughout Asia as not only as a singer, but an actor as well. The drama was aired throughout most of Asia, including Japan, China and the Philippines, with an average program rating of over 50 percent. This was the start of the “Rain fever” that seemed to cross borders throughout the east and Southeast Asia.

During his Korean series, A Love To Kill, Rain’s headstrong approach to trials and challenges made him more versatile as an actor. One of the most acclaimed filmmakers in Korea, Chan Wook Park, known internationally for his Vengeance trilogy (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance), chose Rain to star in I’m A Cyborg, But That’s OK.

The film won the Alfred Bauer Award for Particular Innovation in Filmmaking, one of the eight main awards at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival, and Rain received the Best New Actor Award for his role in the film at the 43rd Baek Sang Arts Award in Korea in 2007.

For his Hollywood debut, Rain was cast as a rookie racer in the Andy and Lana Wachowski’s action adventure film Speed Racer, based on the classic series created by animé pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida. The movie boasted the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowskis’ films, taking Speed Racer into the 21st century and giving Rain his first chance to leave his mark in the American entertainment industry.

The Wachowskis then chose Rain for the lead in their next movie, Ninja Assassin. In the 2009 release, Rain plays Raizo, one of the deadliest assassins in the world.

The Prince is now showing in theaters nationwide from Axinite Digicinema.