Yoo Ji-tae to play opera singer in biopic "The Tenor-Lirico Spinto"

Yoo Ji-tae [T Entertainment]

Actor Yoo Ji-tae has confirmed his role as a tenor in a movie based on a true story, according to his agency T Entertainment on Wednesday.

The "Old Boy" star is returning to the big screen with "The Tenor- Lirico Spinto," which chronicles the life of internationally-acclaimed tenor Bae Jae-chul, set to hit local theaters this winter.

The officials noted that the actor is practicing singing over four hours a day and taking private English and Japanese lessons to portray Bae's tumultuous years of becoming a world-famous opera singer.

"I want to be shown as a real opera singer and will try everything I can to do so," Yoo was quoted as saying in the statement.

"To play tenor Bae Jae-chul, it requires more than just acting," director Kim Sang-man added. "I figured that Yoo can really pull off this character with his tenacious effort."

The biopic's production crew is set to go around Korea, Japan and Serbia for a three-month shooting schedule starting tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Iseya Yusuke of Hollywood flick "Blindness" and Korean actress Cha Ye-ryun each have been earmarked to portray Bae's friend and Bae's wife.

The exact date of the film's release and other details will be announced later by the movie's promoters and Yoo's agency.

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