Johnny's Jr. member Shintaro Morimoto (11) has been given his first role in a movie. He will play the lead in Shochiku's "Snow Prince: Kinjirareta Koi no Melody," directed by Joji Matsuoka ("Tokyo Tower").

The movie uses an original script by Kundo Koyama, who wrote the screenplay for the Academy Award-winning "Okuribito" ("Departures"). The story is set in a poor village during the early Showa era, and Morimoto plays a young boy who has lost both parents. The heroine is being played by Marino Kuwajima (11), while the rest of the cast includes Teruyuki Kagawa, Rei Dan, Maiko, Katsuo Nakamura, and Tadanobu Asano.

"Snow Prince" is scheduled to be released in December. So far, film distributors from 17 other countries have already sent offers, making it very likely that the picture will see a wide international release.