Actors Mei Nagano and Takeru Satoh have been confirmed as the co-stars for the movie 'Cells at Work' (premiering in December). They attended the production announcement held in Tokyo on the 11th. The live-action adaptation of the popular manga 'Cells at Work' (created by Akane Shimizu) takes place inside the human body and depicts the activities of various cells. Nagano will play the protagonist Red Blood Cell, while Satoh will play White Blood Cell, who protects the body alongside Red Blood Cell. This marks their first co-starring role since the first half of the 2018 NHK morning drama 'Half, Blue.'

The movie is directed by Hideki Takeuchi and written by Tomoichi Tokunaga, the team behind the film 'Fly Me to the Saitama' (released in 2019). It portrays the microscopic battles inside the body as a work of "comedy × action × emotion." Warner Bros. Japan, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023, is planning this large-scale live-action film as a major project in the Japanese film industry. The story anthropomorphizes numerous cells working within the human body, depicting their battles against pathogens. The series was adapted into an anime in July 2018 and has expanded into spin-off mangas, novels, and stage plays, surpassing 9.5 million copies in total circulation.

Upon first receiving the offer to play Red Blood Cell, Nagano said, "I couldn't understand what it meant at first... but I was excited and looking forward to it, thinking this would be my first and last time playing a red blood cell." Director Takeuchi praised her, saying, "You were a perfect cell. How did you prepare for the role?" Nagano smiled and responded, "I read the original manga and watched a lot of the anime."

Satoh, who plays White Blood Cell and read the original manga, said, "I completely fell in love with the world. I could instantly picture White Blood Cell. If I hadn't taken this role, I would have wondered what I'd been working so hard for up until now. This is my culmination." Inspired by his enthusiasm, Nagano added, "This is the role I was meant to play! This is my culmination!" and laughed innocently.

Source : ORICON NEWS