The Japanese entertainment news source Cinema Today began
streaming a 33-second teaser trailer for the live-action film
adaptation of
Bisco Hatori's
Ouran High School Host Club romantic comedy manga this week. (The video on this page may play properly in some countries, but it may play in other countries only on
YouTube's
website itself.) The teaser includes clips of previously announced cast members and highlights the addition of Mariko Shinoda of the Japanese pop group
AKB48 and Nichkhun of the Korean group 2PM.
Shinoda will play the half-Japanese international exchange student Michelle while Nichkhun will perform the role of her older brother. This will be Nichkhun's first appearance in a Japanese film.
In the story, high school freshman Haruhi Fujioka pretends to be a boy so that she can take part in the wealthy school's Host Club, to which she owes a large debt. 16-year-old actress Haruna Kawaguchi (Yankee-kun to Megane-chan, Moshidora) will reprise her lead role as Haruhi; it will be the first time that she headlines a feature film. Kawaguchi said that the film will depict an aspect of the story not seen in the live-action television series. Yusuke Yamamoto and Shunsuke Daito will return as the host club's president Tamaki Suou and vice-president Kyoya Ootori.
Sony Pictures Entertainment will distribute the film, its first television-to-film project. The Ouran High School Host Club live-action film will premiere in theaters throughout Japan on March 17.