Kimura in talks for Kang Je-gyu's Hollywood debut pic

Japanese actor Takuya Kimura is in talks to appear in top South Korean director Kang Je-gyu's Hollywood debut pic, according to a source close to the director.

"The two sides are currently discussing Kimura's casting to the movie and he is at the top of the list but nothing has been set yet," an unnamed source said on Thursday.

Korean actor Jang Dong-gun has already been tapped to lead the cast of the war epic tentatively titled "D-Day", based on the Invasion of Normandy during World War II.

A Hollywood production company will invest in the picture helmed by Kang who will team with close friend and director of hit film "Take Off" from earlier this year, Kim Yong-hwa, who will join the crew as producer.

Kang, currently in the United States for the upcoming blockbuster, is set to return to Korea over the weekend and announce the details of the film through a press conference next week.

The 47-year-old director, often dubbed the Steven Spielberg of East Asia, has produced several of Korea's top films including 1999 hit film "Swiri" and 2004 pic "Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War" which is the third most-watched Korean film in box office history.

Jang has won several critical acclaims for his roles in films since his debut in 1993. He recently starred in box office topper "Good Morning President", the opening film for the Pusan International Film Festival last month.

Kimura is also one of Japan's most popular actors who recently starred alongside Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett and Korea's Lee Byung-hun in "I Come with the Rain" by "Cyclo" filmmaker Tran Anh Hung.

Reporter : Ko Kyoung-seok kave@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr