MovieChat Forums > Rain Fall (2009) Discussion > Actor to play John

Actor to play John

posted 16 years ago by mary-383
11 replies | jump to latest

This from www.japanzone.com (if you want to read more see the entry for April 16)

"Fictional Japanese-American assassin John Rain is coming to the big screen. Shiina Kippei (43) is to star in a mostly Japanese-language adaptation of "Rain Fall," the first book in the John Rain series by thriller writer Barry Eisler."

According the person who runs that site, there will only be about 15% English.

BUT, look on the bright side, with Hollywood's recent love for the re-creation of successful Asian moives, perhaps there will be a Hollywood version.(starring my favorite, Hiroyuki Sanada. If you don't know him he's been a huge star in Japan. Outside Japan, you might know him from his role as the villian in Rush Hour 3 or as Ujio in The Last Samurai)

Failing that, at least a special release with English subtitles.

[–] duleewopper 16 years ago

They should get Collin Chou (Seraph from the Matrix series) to play John Rain.

[–] raynar 16 years ago

It would be years before the recreate it...
It takes them years to pick up hat its good, then to gain rights then to do everything else then make it...
No doubt that it would be so awesome that Hollywood will pick it up it will be just very in the future... Colin Might be a bit to old by then.

[–] duleewopper 16 years ago

true. still...he has the build.. and the physique.

[–] mifune-9 16 years ago

I realize that most people can't tell the difference between a Chinese guy and a Japanese/Caucasian guy who's had plastic surgery to to more Japanese, but for those who can tell, this is a silly casting choice.

[–] duleewopper 16 years ago

doesnt really matter tho does it?

[–] mifune-9 16 years ago

No. Not at all. How about Antonio Banderas as the next 007?

[–] mifune-9 16 years ago

Also I really doubt Collin Chou can speak english and japanese as a native speaker might. It's kinda integral to the character.

[–] duleewopper 16 years ago

he he..banderas..haha...that guy is whipped! haha..

still think he has teh build and the look... so he's chinese...its not like it hasnt happened before where some actor from britain plays an american or vice versa..AND they pull it off...was just saying anyhow..dont have to be so matter of factly...

takin it a liiiiiittle too seriously....

[–] gogerxt 16 years ago

The actor most be japanese making any other asian play the role will be stupid and pathetic =] also since the movie is mostly in japanese the actor most speak japanese very well

[–] e_santos-1 14 years ago

Personally, I think the producers really dropped the ball with the casting. They should have casted an even bigger Asian star who can break into other Asian markets besides Japan. I can envision someone like Lee Byung Hun (aka Stormshadow in GI Joe) who has mass appeal in China, Korea, and Japan. He's the right age (40). multilingual, can act and do action.

I also think it doesn't matter if he's not Japanese. It's about marketability which he has in spades especially in Asia.

[–] kyzasoze2003 11 years ago

I think that Takeshi Kaneshiro would've been pleased those who wanted at least a part-Japanese actor. Otherwise Donnie Yen could've really done well in the role.