Scarlett Johansson Signs On For ‘Ghost in the Shell’

According to Variety, The Avengers and Her star Scarlett Johansson has signed on to DreamWorks’ live-action American adaptation of iconic Japanese anime Ghost in the Shell. Rupert Sanders (director of Snow White & The Huntsman) is on board to direct, with Avi Arad (producer of the Spider-Man trilogy) and Steven Paul as producers. Their screenplay comes from Bill Wheeler, who seems to be well within the spy-thriller genre in case you want an idea how this adaptation might play out.

From Variety:

Johansson is set to star in DreamWorks’ adaptation of the popular anime pic “Ghost in the Shell.” Deadline Hollywood had reported that the actress had the offer to star but at the time she was still undecided about taking the role. Sources now say she has agreed to star in the pic.

 

The story follows the exploits of a member of a covert ops unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission that specializes in fighting technology-related crime.

Was Lucy a success? An action heroine is something I’ll always get behind, but somehow I always miss those movies opening weekend. Salt, Columbiana, Lucy, and yet I’ll shake my fist at the studios for not having Gamora or Wonder Woman front and center of their superhero movies. I’m a hypocrite. Burn me at the stake.

I’m not sure which part I should concentrate on here. I’m excited for Scarlett Johansson’s star to keep rising because I think she has the talent and charisma to become a true triple-A blockbuster icon, but I can’t get excited for an American Ghost in the Shell. I have no stake in honoring the source material because I’m not the biggest anime fan, so they’re free to deviate as they wish for all I care, but even I know Hollywood’s shitty track record on adapting Asian properties for American shores. There is a reason why Ghost in the Shell resonated with so many people on its own, but in turning it into something for everyone you lose a lot of nuance, more than just the gritty details of the who and the what. It’s the why of the story that gets muddled. I can’t really say I’m looking forward to that.

But hey, great for Johansson. I’ll be looking forward to seeing her kick more ass at least.