Venice Golden Lion winner Kim Ki-duk has written and is producing action thriller Rough Play, directed by Shin Yeon-shik.

Rough Play stars Lee Jun, best known as a singer in the boy group MBLAQ, which was created by pan-Asian pop star Rain. He also played the younger version of Rain’s character in the Wachowskis-produced Hollywood action film Ninja Assassin.

Kim Ki-duk has written and produced films for protégés before, including action thriller Rough Cut, directed by Jang Hun. Jang later went on to direct box office hits Secret Reunion and The Front Line.

Rough Cut featured a gangster-like actor who is forced to use a real gangster as a co-star. Rough Play features a young man who makes it big overnight as an actor and enters into dangerous waters because of it.

Unlike previous Kim Ki-duk-produced directors, Shin Yeon-shik is not a debuting protégé. He has directed three films before, including upcoming Rotterdam fest title The Russian Novel, which premiered in Busan last year, and the CJ-distributed 2009 film The Fair Love, starring Ahn Sung-ki.

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