London, Oct 15 : Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is taking on an unlikely new role - as the voice of the cult cartoon superhero Ultraman King.

Three years after stepping down as prime minister and only weeks after retiring from politics, the retired silver-haired reformer with an Elvis Presley obsession has been unveiled as the voice of the masked senior superhero, reports The Guardian.

"We considered many people who might be able to play this crucial role," said a producer at Tsuburaya Productions.

"But we though that the only person who could really have the presence of Ultraman King, who brings the [Ultraman] clan together, would be Mr Koizumi, who once led the country," the producer added.

With his futuristic red and silver clad ensemble, Ultraman King is an extraterrestrial TV superhero revered by three generations of Japanese. (ANI)