"Newcomer Christian Oda has been signed and will be joined by a spectacular ensemble of international actors led by Ken Watanabe, Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh, Youki Kudoh and Koji Yakusho to star in Columbia Pictures / DreamWorks Films / Spyglass Entertainment's feature film adaptation of /www.dreamworksfansite.com/geisha/"">Memoirs of a Geisha for Academy Award(R)-nominated director Rob Marshall.

Christian Oda, a mere 5 years old has been cast in his first movie playing the son of Japanese actor Ken Watanabe (the Chairman), an Academy Award? nominee for his portrayal of the warrior Katsumoto in The Last Samurai and a star of the upcoming Batman Begins, plays the powerful man who claims Sayuri's heart. The highly-anticipated /www.dreamworksfansite.com/geisha/"">Memoirs of a Geisha has been named the 2005 most anticipated film by the American Premiere Magazine.

Steven Spielberg handpicked the young Oda himself from a line-up of photos. Christian has prior experience commercial modeling for Baby Gap, Macy""s and other major corporations since the age of 7 months.

When asked how he felt about participating in a Spielberg/Marshall Film he appeared as if he didn""t really care and went back to playing.

Source: /www.prnewswire.com/"">PR NewsWire."