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Scarlett Johansson Officially Signed on to Lead 'Ghost in the Shell'
by Ethan Anderton
January 5, 2015
Source: Variety
Briefly: Last fall, we learned that The Avengers and Lucy star Scarlett Johansson was entertaining an offer from DreamWorks to star in their big screen animation of the popular anime Ghost in the Shell. Now Variety reports the actress has officially signed to take the lead role of a female member of a covert ops unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission that specializes in fighting technology-related crime. Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders will be at the helm of the film with a script by William Wheeler (of The Hoax and "The Cape"). As of now the film is waiting for a greenlight though.
37 Comments
1
Great a short stubby Ghost in the Shell... it's like Casting charlize theron in Aeon Flux... what are fucking thinking people, mila jolovich should have had both of those rolls... neither ghost and shell and aeon flux have very groundbreaking dialogue its sexy skinny woman in black leather beating the shit outta dudes, robots and mutants/mutant cyborgs... Make that !
shane willett on Jan 5, 2015
2
Did u just say Ghost In The Shell doesnt have groundbreaking dialogue?
Rauncor on Jan 5, 2015
3
lol, he must be talking about Cat Woman... I`m sure he is 😉
ErrorSapiens on Jan 5, 2015
4
There is no doubt that Mila Jolovich would be the first american actress to come to mind for Ghost in the Shell. But she has played that role more than enough. However, that is just one opinion.
Carnel on Jan 5, 2015
5
I was just wondering the other day how is this project going on.
Tuomas Lassila on Jan 5, 2015
6
scarlett johannsen did well in Lucy and I think ppl like her as Black Widow but this is role is almost as though she has been type casted into the female action star roles.....doubt this plot even stays located in Japan...
desispeed on Jan 5, 2015
7
I didn't see Under the Skin, but I think how she would have acted in that is sort of what you'd look for in the non-action scenes in Ghost right? The action scenes are whatever - she'll need to shed some weight though I think.
OfficialJab on Jan 5, 2015
8
Her weight is fine.
Brian Sleider on Jan 5, 2015
9
I haven't seen her at her most recent, maybe it is. I guess I'll just say she needs to stay slender.
OfficialJab on Jan 5, 2015
10
She has always been slender?
Brian Sleider on Jan 9, 2015
11
As someone else has said, I'd say 'short' and 'stubby' are descriptive of her, if a bit frank. I think you get the impression I'm calling her a hippo.
OfficialJab on Jan 12, 2015
12
Why not Rinko Kikuchi (Pacific Rim etc.)? Tired of westernized casting for these great stories. Nothing against SJ, but get the casting right.
Verithin on Jan 5, 2015
13
Emereeekuhhh. Yeah Its just the pride and where the $$$ is
redskulllives on Jan 5, 2015
14
That girls acted horribly, I do agree that whitewashing of movies is bad. But we need to make sure we get people who can actually act to fill these roles.
Brian Sleider on Jan 5, 2015
15
As much as I like JoHandsome (under the skin changed the way I see her), I am not sure about this. Will wait till some production pics.
Armitall on Jan 5, 2015
16
Whats wrong with casting an Asian to play an Asian?
Brian Sleider on Jan 5, 2015
17
I have never really thought of Motoko looking like an "ethnic Asian." That being stated, I would gladly seen anyone else assume the role.
redtie on Jan 5, 2015
18
They spoke japanese, the series was set in japan, her name is motoko kusanagi, how much of a racist caricature do you want the art to be before you start believing they are japanese.
Rauncor on Jan 5, 2015
19
Slanty eyes eating rice all the time I guess.
Brian Sleider on Jan 5, 2015
20
That's exactly what I mean! The movie could use more rice! And double... no... Triple the slanty eyes! Ohhhh, but make sure they slant the right direction.
redtie on Jan 6, 2015
21
Maybe her parents were Finish/German immagrants, flying into the country when the plane tragically crashed. Being a fresh orphan and no parents to say no, the government performed the first full body transplant. This would mean she's not Asian at all. Look you and I have no clue what background Motoko has. My opinion is Motoko does not look like an "ethnic Asian." Having an Asian play Mokoto would be nice, but I don't think it's necessary. "Exodus gods and kings" would have benefited from actually having the correct ethnic actors, not something that seemed like a farce. By "they," you must mean "she" because that's the only character I have referenced.
redtie on Jan 6, 2015
22
I wonder if in Japan the audiences of anime are all bent out of shape all the time that the artwork makes most of the characters look western. Scarlett looks closer to that character than any Japanese person. If the creators of these series are even mad about 'whitewashing' then they did it to themselves.
OfficialJab on Jan 12, 2015
23
Ugh... worst casting again! Plus I'm pretty sure we'll see no tits which is expected when it comes to Ghost in the Shell.
backwardsprogress on Jan 5, 2015
24
I know nothing of the Ghost in the Shell story, but does anyone else feel like this will be like a way to get a Black Widow stand alone movie without actually doing a Black Widow stand alone movie?
theslayer5150 on Jan 5, 2015
25
No, not in any sense acctually. I know the GitS story though, and I see a good actress in a cool role...if/when one would mess around with live capturing spectacular animation work with no need of reboots, remakes or series. 😉
ErrorSapiens on Jan 5, 2015
26
Black Widow's awesome but she's got nothing on Major Kusanagi imo.
Dimius on Jan 6, 2015
27
I wonder if americans would be interested to turn Neon Genesis Evangelion into an american film, or would it be too similar to Pacific Rim?
Tuomas Lassila on Jan 5, 2015
28
Evangelion is too convoluted to be a successful big-budget movie. I've watched both animated incarnations, and yeah... don't think it'd work. I want live-action Akira, darnit.
VAharleywitch on Jan 7, 2015
29
Figured. I don't actually want Evangelion movie, I was just wondering.
Tuomas Lassila on Jan 7, 2015
30
Fuck yeahya
redskulllives on Jan 5, 2015
31
You must like men
redskulllives on Jan 5, 2015
32
Mmmmmm..like her but not for this role.
mooreworthy on Jan 5, 2015
33
Even though I'm a fan of Scar Jo, I do understand most people's view of her over saturation in today's film. And I also see their point on hollywood's "poor casting" choices. But bottom line is that SJ's current star appeal and acting is what they are looking for. I'm sure other great actresses had audition. But I'm one to believe that she has touched on the character of Motoko Kusanagi in her current mainstream and independent films, which probably is what landed her this role. Ex: Black Widow, Samantha (her), Lucy and Under the Skin. All which can be related to Motoko in some shape or form. You don't have to like those films. (I did not enjoy Lucy what soever.) But Scarlett has gained some notoriety for those characters. And I believe she can do it. Now, it's up to the screenwriters, director, producers etc. to do their jobs. Just like most of fans of Ghost in the Shell and anime, I want this to be a success just as much. We just can't have so high of expectations.
Carnel on Jan 5, 2015
34
c'mon, its 2015 its a japanese anime flick, a westarn take is redundant on so many levels...look at dragonball, avatar, legend of chun li....how you gon find an audiance when all you do is keep it at a single perception like there culture isnt good enough to bring big numbers in...this is getting ridiculous..
Liam Knurtsis on Jan 5, 2015
35
LUCY 2??!!! // Rinko would have been cooler.
DAVIDPD on Jan 5, 2015
36
Who wants to bet the setting moves to China?
redtie on Jan 6, 2015
37
Hot diggidy. Good actress. But like many, I do wonder why it had to be white-washed.
VAharleywitch on Jan 7, 2015
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