Rain Chooses China Over Hollywood

When Rain traveled to the U.S. to film "The Prince" with Bruce Willis, he also stopped in Los Angeles to talk to American film producers about future roles.

He is no stranger to Hollywood sets, having previously starred in two American action films, "Speed Racer," and "Ninja Assassin." American producers are eager to hire the star that actor John Goodman once called "the hardest working man in show business."

And Rain is eager to work, having finished his two-year mandatory military duty last summer.

But after he finishes his role in "The Prince," he will not be heading to Hollywood or even Korea. He has signed on to star in a project that will be filmed in China.

According to his management agency, Cube DC, he has taken a role in a Chinese melodrama.

Although the singer and actor is best known for his tough guy action roles, this role will call on him to express a more sensitive side.

He will play Shui Chung Shuin, a talented young painter who falls in love.

"Rain has so far shown his masculine appeal playing mostly tough and heroic characters in his Hollywood films," said a Cube DC representative. "The film will give him a chance to totally change his image."

Gao Xixi, one of China's most famous drama directors, will direct the drama. Liu Yifei, a popular Chinese actress, model and singer will play the woman that Rain falls in love with. Liu Yifei appears in her own Hollywood action film this year, "Outcast" with Hayden Christensen and Nicholas Cage.

A representative from the project's production crew said that Rain is perfect for the part of the drama's main character.

"Rain definitely has that star quality that is required to play the main role in the storyline," said the production crew representative. "We thought that he suited the smart and artistic character of Shui Chung Shuin."

The as-yet-untitled project will begin shooting in Shanghai in mid-March.

Rain may be best known as a singer and producer but he has earned considerable praise for his acting efforts. He won a KBS Best new Actor Award for his first drama role in "Sang Doo! Let's Go To School" and an Excellence in Acting award for his role in the k-drama "Full House." He appeared in the Korean films "I'm a Cyborg But That's Okay" and "R2B: Return To Base," before fulfilling his mandatory military service.