Monkey Punch's Lupin III manga and anime franchise is getting a live-action film adaptation in summer 2014 starring actor Shun Oguri (Captain Harlock, Hana Yori Dango, Gokusen, Space Brothers). Oguri underwent 10 months of action training for the role, losing 8 kilograms (about 17.6 pounds).

Additional cast members include Meisa Kuroki (Space Battleship Yamato [2010], Crows Zero II) as Fujiko Mine, Tetsuji Tamayama (Nana, Casshern) as Daisuke Jigen, Gou Ayano (Ushijima the Loan Shark, Rurouni Kenshin, Helter Skelter, Bunny Drop) as Goemon Ishikawa, and Tadanobu Asano ( Thor, 47 Ronin ) as Detective Kōichi Zenigata. Ryūhei Kitamura ( Godzilla: Final Wars, Azumi ) is directing the film, and Mataichirō Yamamoto (Crows Zero, Azumi) is writing the script.

The movie will chronicle how the five main characters meet and how they become the "Lupin Crew." The film will also include an original character, Lupin's nemesis named Michael Lee, who will be played by Jerry Yan ( Meteor Garden ), a member of the Taiwanese popular group F4. Other cast members include South Korean actor Kim Joon (South Korean Hana Yori Dango ) and Thai actor Thanayong Wongtrakul ( The Man from Nowhere ).

The movie began filming on October 3, and will film in one week in Japan, and then will film in Thailand for two months starting before principal photography ends in December.

The Tokyo Sports newspaper had reported in June that Oguri would star in the film, but had reported at that time that Sho Sakurai would play Daisuke Jigen and Satoshi Tsumabuki would play Goemon Ishikawa.

Source: Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web

Update: Monkey Punch launched Lupin III in the inaugural issue of Weekly Manga Action magazine in 1967 and established the new genre of "seinen manga." The stories of the titular thief have already spawned several television anime series, anime films, an annual string of television specials, games, stage productions, and other projects.

Spanish cinematographer Pedro J. Márquez ( Kidnapped ) is serving as director of photography. The visual effects supervisor also worked on the Korean films Brotherhood and The Thieves . 14 interpreters translated between Japanese, English, Thai, Chinese, and Korean on location at Thailand.

The cast includes Australian Nick Tate ( Return from the River Kwai ), Thai actor Nirut Sirijanya ( The Hangover Part II ), and Thai singer Yaya Ying.

Source: eiga.com