*UPDATE*: According to Variety, Scarlett Johansson has officially signed on to star in Ghost in the Shell for DreamWorks. The offer has been sitting for two months, and sources say after some deliberation, Johansson has decided to accept the role.
Steven Spielberg is reportedly a big fan of the original anime, and has been trying to get this project off the ground for some time now. Johansson’s attachment could be a major push to getting the film greenlit for production.
British director Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) is signed on to direct the film based on Masamune Shirow’s original two volume manga.
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[dropcap size=small]A[/dropcap]ctress Scarlett Johansson is reportedly being courted by DreamWorks to star in the live-action film adaptation of the famous Japanese manga, Ghost in the Shell.
The offer for Johansson to play the lead role in the film comes after negotiations fell apart between DreamWorks and actress Margot Robbie, who had been attached to film since September. Robbie, who had her breakthrough role in The Wolf of Wall Street, reportedly dropped out of Ghost in the Shell to instead accept a role in DC’s recently announced Suicide Squad.
Scarlett Johansson has made quite a name for herself as an action star. She of course is best known these days for playing superhero Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She recently starred in the sci-fi blockbuster, Lucy, so Ghost in the Shell may not be much of a departure for the star.
The upcoming adaptation of Ghost in the Shell will be helmed by British director Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman). The film is expected to be based on Masamune Shirow’s original two-volume manga. Johansson was reportedly offered the role of Motoko Kusanagi, a beautiful cyborg and member the counter-cyberterrorist organization Public Security Section 9. Motoko is tasked with investigating a cyber-criminal known as the Puppeteer.
Do you think Scarlett Johansson is a good choice to fill the role? Let us know!
