‘Ghost in the Shell’ Enters Production: See Scarlett Johansson as “The Major”

By JonathanBarkan on April 14, 2016

Production has kicked off in New Zealand for the live action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell, which is based on the Masamune Shirow manga that originally came out in 1989. The manga received an anime adaptation in 1995 that was critically acclaimed.

Directed by Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman), Ghost in the Shell tells the story of The Major (Scarlett Johansson), “…a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology.”

Producers Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Michael Costigan and Jeffrey Silver exclaim, “We are so pleased to be in Wellington to shoot ‘Ghost in the Shell’. The city boasts state-of-the-art production facilities and a rich urban landscape that make it an ideal setting for a sci-fi action film. The crew-base in New Zealand working on the film is first class, and working with Sir Richard Taylor and the team at Weta Workshop is inspirational on every level. The people of New Zealand have been terrific partners in helping us bring this story and its beloved characters to audiences around the world and we are thankful for their continued hospitality.”

The cast of Ghost in the Shell includes Beat Takeshi Kitano, Juliette Binoche, Michael Pitt, Pilou Asbæk, and Kaori Momoi. The members of Section 9 are played by Chin Han, Danusia Samal, Lasarus Ratuere, Yutaka Izumihara and Tuwanda Manyimo.

Ghost in the Shell will be released on March 31st, 2017 in the United States.