Pan-Asian pop star Rain has joined the cast of the Wachowski brothers' upcoming Speed Racer, Warner Bros announced here.

Rain, aka Jung Ji-hoon, made his big screen debut in Park Chan-wook's Berlinale competition title I'm a Cyborg but That's Okay. He is to play an young contender in Speed Racer, which features young drivers risking their lives in high-tech sports car racing.

The Matrix creators Andy and Larry Wachowski are directing with Emile Hirsh to star as the racer Speed with Christina Ricci as his love interest, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman as his parents, and Matthew Fox his main rival X.

Based on a Japanese cult animated series, the film is a German-English co-production between Sechste Babelsberg Film and London-based Velocity Productions.

The action blockbuster is due to start shooting at the Babelsberg Studios in June.

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