First Shots From Live Action Thermae Romae Film

Japanese casts play ancient Romans in the real Rome

October 19, 2011 2:00am EDT (10/18/11)

Several Japanese media reported first photos from the up-coming live-action film adaptation of Mari Yamazaki's Thermae Romae manga today. Hiroshi Abe plays Lucius, a Roman architect of public bath house in ancient Rome of the 130s who time-travels to present-days baths in Japan. He has been playing the voice of Kenshiro in North Stars Pictures' The Fist of the North Star anime films and OVAs since 2005. And a famous musical actor Masachika Ichimura plays the 14th Roman Emperor Hadrian.

Hideki Takeuchi (Nodame Cantabile live action TV and films) directs the film. The shooting has already began in Rome with 1,000 Roman extras since March. The film is slated for release in 2012.