Fuji TV's new drama series "Galileo" is making its way into theaters next year, it was announced on Sunday. The series got off to a good start last week with a 24.7% viewership rating for its premiere episode, and the network hopes the movie will be one of its big hits for 2008.

"Galileo" is based on the "Tantei Galileo" novel series by popular author Keigo Higashino. Last year, Higashino won the Naoki Prize and other literary awards for "Yougisha x no Kenshin," the first full-length story in the series. That work is the basis for the movie.

The film will be directed by Hiroshi Nishitani, one of the directors for the television series. This is his second movie - he previously helmed the 2006 "Kenchou no Hoshi" (also known by the titles "Star Reformer" and "The Star of Prefecture Government"), which starred Yuji Oda and Kou Shibasaki.

Shibasaki will also star in "Yougisha," reprising her role in "Galileo" alongside Masaharu Fukuyama. The rest of the main television cast is reportedly appearing in the film as well, including Kazuki Kitamura.

The story involves a man named Tetsuya Ishigami, a mathematical genius and high school teacher who has fallen in love with a bento vendor. When he finds out that she and her daughter committed a murder, he helps them out by constructing the perfect alibi.

Filming is scheduled to begin within the first few days of the new year. Theatrical release has been slated for the fall.