Kikuchi Brings Asian Flower to ‘Brother’s Bloom’

What do you get when you combine a critically acclaimed writer/director with one of the hottest properties to cross the Pacific in recent memory? A film that is set to 'Bloom' like the lilies of the leads native land. Adrien Brody and Rinko Kikuch (Babel), in her first role since getting a nod from the Academy as Best Supporting Actress for her role as “Chieko”, are tapped to lead in The Brother's Bloom an edgy crime drama set for a 2008 release. 

The pair will work with Rian Johnson, who is a relative newcomer to the scene, but won critical acclaim for his 2005 double shot Kikuchi, who has had a string of hits in her native Japan, has taken the West by storm following her Oscar nomination. The actress turned heads in Tinsel Town with her incredibly believable performance as a deaf mute in the flick, exhibiting the fact that language is not a barrier to gaining credibility and stature in the states.  

In the latest excursion for Johnson, which he again scribed as well as will helm, Brody will portray the younger brother in a con team who falls for a mysterious target played by Rachel Weisz, whose most recent projects include The Fountain and The Constant Gardener. Kikuchi will play a partner in the team of cons who may be hiding secrets of her own. The flick is being banked and produced by Endgame’s Ram Bergman with Jim Stern handling production details and Endgame prexy Wendy Japhet. Bergman was also behind Johnson’s last project, Brick. No location or shooting schedule has yet been announced.