Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Buena Vista International (BVI) Japan chose the popular sports figure to lead promotions for three upcoming releases produced by hit-maker Bruckheimer.
The three titles are Deja Vu (March 17), Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End (May 26) and National Treasure: The Book Of Secrets (December 21). A combined box office target of $206m (Y25bn) has been set for the three releases.
Over a period of three years, following their move from Tokyo to Sapporo in 2004, the famed player led the bottom-ranked Nippon Ham Fighters to huge popularity and the Japan Series championship in 2006 (their first win since 1962).
Shinjo was well-known for his creative ploys in attracting fans to the flagging team. He retired last April with aspirations for a career in modelling and movies. 'I made a lot of hits in baseball. Making them in movies is going to be easy. The films themselves are already great, and I've got some surprises up my sleeve,' said a confident Shinjo.
'In the future, I'd be happy for him to appear in one of my films. Maybe a big adventure movie,' said Bruckheimer.
BVI was the most successful Hollywood major in the territory in 2006, earning over $210m and releasing the year's number one film Pirates Of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ($82.34m).
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