During an interview with Collider, Scarlett Johansson revealed that a Ghost in the Shell movie will begin shooting soon.
“It will be shooting the beginning of next year, so I think we start production January or February and it’s me and Rupert [Sanders]; and that’s all I know.”
What Else Do We Know About the Ghost in the Shell Movie?
This is great news for Ghost in the Shell fans, except we don’t know much about the upcoming film. All we know is that Johansson, Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) and William Wheeler (The Reluctant Fundamentalist) are attached. Sanders will be directing and Wheeler is the screenwriter.
Back in 2008, Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks purchased the rights to create a US version of the popular Japanese manga. No, we don’t know if Spielberg is attached to the upcoming project in any way, he may have simply helped acquire the rights.
What Is Ghost in the Shell?
The original manga was written and drawn by Masamune Shirow between 1989 and 1990. After a period of obscurity, it became popular and was adapted into a bigger manga series, and then eventually into an anime, animated series’, and even some video games. To this day, Ghost in the Shell has a very passionate and widespread fanbase.
The plot follows Public Security Section 9, a secretive intelligence agency that works to protect citizens from various digital and cyber threats. It takes place in the distant future, during a time when many humans have been augmented with cybernetic implants and devices. There’s a lot more to it, obviously, but things could get really drawn out and complicated if I explain the entire story.
No matter how you choose to experience Ghost in the Shell you’re in for a wild ride. My hope, is that the film will remain true to the source material. At this point, we have no idea whether or not the film is going to follow the same theme, let alone the same plot.
Why Johansson Is a Promising Addition to the Project
To put it bluntly, Johansson knows how to kick some ass and she’s proven that time and time again.
However, the reason I believe she’s a promising addition to the project is because she has experience taking on strange sci-fi action roles. If you haven’t already, check out Luc Besson’s Lucy, or Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin. When you watch them, you’ll understand exactly what I mean when I say “she has experience.”
She’s a damn good fit for Motoko Kusanagi. I’m sure they’ll change her name for the western market, though.
That doesn’t mean I’m not a little worried, and I know I’m not alone in feeling that way. Often, when projects make the jump to the western market they lose a lot of the creative flair from the source material.
Let’s hope by the time Ghost in the Shell hits theaters on April 14, 2017, Sanders and crew will have figured out how to please the fans and newcomers alike.
