Korean B-boy dance troupe Gambler are to star in a $US 25 million feature produced by major Hollywood studio Paramount Pictures. Gambler are Korea's leading B-boy dance group, having won numerous international competitions. They will star in "Hype Nation" alongside American R&B group B2K as two rival bands going head to head in B-boy dance battles.
The film will also star rapper and legendary producer Teddy Riley, who has produced albums with the likes of Bobby Brown and Michael Jackson. In addition to playing a part in the film, Riley will co-produce the feature. Comedian-actress Whoopi Goldberg is also named as attached to the project. The film is to be the feature directing debut of Alex Calzatti, known best for his work as camera operator, including on the Russian classic I Am Cuba.
Korean-American Young Lee, president of Young Films, will produce the film for Paramount and is currently casting for a Korean female lead. The film moves into production July 15 in the US with 40% of the film to be shot stateside and 60% to be shot in Korea starting late August. The film is slated for an early 2009 release.
8 members of Gambler will fly to the US on June 1 to begin pre-production choreography for the film. Gambler has dazzled fans of the B-boy dance sport, winning awards such as the 2004 Battle of the Year in Germany, the 2005 U.K. Championship and the B-Boy Hodown in the United States.
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