Korean pic "The Man from Nowhere" travels to Japan

Scene from film "The Man from Nowhere" [CJ Entertainment]

Major Japanese studio Toei has acquired the rights to hit Korean action thriller "The Man from Nowhere" and will show the pic in the country starting next month.

The film, starring top Korean actor Won Bin and child actress Kim Sae-ron, will see a nationwide release in Japan on September 17, producer said, making it the first time since Jackie Chan starrer "Seven Lucky Stars" in 1985, that Toei will be distributing a foreign film.

"The Man from Nowhere" will also be the first film released by Toei Triangle, set up by Toei for the distribution of foreign films.

To promote the movie, director Lee Jeong-bum and main cast Won Bin and Kim Sae-ron will take part in a press conference to be held at the Park Hyatt hotel in Tokyo tomorrow.

"The Man from Nowhere," about a reclusive former special agent (Won Bin) who befriends a young girl next door (Kim Sae-ron), dominated Korea's box office for five straight weeks after its release last August and attracted some 6.3 million viewers.

The movie also swept last year's Korea Film Awards, taking up prizes in seven categories including best actor, best new actress, best cinematography, best music, best lighting, best visual effects and best editor.