As reported earlier, Yamazaki Mari's popular manga "Thermae Romae" will be getting a live-action movie adaptation starring�Abe Hiroshi and Ueto Aya. Abe's "ancient Roman" look was recently revealed for the upcoming movie.

�Thermae Romae� means �Rome�s Bath� and the comedic movie will depict the story of Lucius, a bath design engineer who slips through time between Ancient Rome and modern Japan. The manga itself comically portrays Lucius�s struggle and shock in bringing back modern Japan bathing cultures to Ancient Rome. Fuji TV expressed their hopes in depicting the cross between Ancient Roman cultures and modern Japanese culture well.�Abe will be the protagonist "Lucius", and along with Abe, Ichimura Masachika, Kitamura Kazuki, and Shishido Kai who are known as "clean-cut features" actors will also play various roles as ancient Romans. �The local staff members and the extras praised their "ancient Roman" look saying, "You guys fit the image (as ancient Romans) quite well~."



The filming for the movie started on March 14th at the open-air set of the ancient Roman Empire at the Cinecitt� which is the biggest movie studio in Italy, with the cooperation of 1,000 local�extras. �It seems the filming at the Cinecitt� was a valuable experience for the cast members. �Ichimura who will play "Hadrian", the 14th Roman Emperor, said, "I was very excited. �A Japanese playing the Roman Emperor could happen for a stage, but I didn't expect it to translate so well in a movie. It was my very first experience." �Kitamura whose role will be "Ceionius" (a candidate of the Roma Emperor for the next term) also commented, "I was elated to film at the Cinecitt� studio where many famous directors had made many movie." Shishido who will be "Antoninus", a close adviser of "Hadrian", said, "I almost forgot that I was Japanese which made it easier to act."

On the other hand, the filming for the scenes in modern Japan was held at the public bath in Tokyo as well as the various hot springs. �The gap between those "ancient Romans" and "flat-faced family (the Japanese people)" which Ueto and Sasano Takashi will play, will be one of the highlights of the movie.

"Thermae Romae" will be released in 2012.

Source & Image: Oricon