Scarlett Johansson seems to be enjoying her action star status as of late, starring as Black Widow in THE AVENGERS and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER, and recently headlining Luc Besson’s LUCY, which was critically panned by made an impressive $394 million worldwide. Last October she was reportedly offered $10 million to star in a live action GHOST IN THE SHELL film for Dreamworks. The movie is to be directed by Rupert Sanders (SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN), adapting the manga comic and anime film by creator Masamune Shirow. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET‘s Margot Robbie was at one point attached, but her recent casting in SUICIDE SQUAD killed that. Variety is now saying Johansson will take the lead role after all. The 1995 Mamoru Oshii animated film is the best-known adaptation of Shirow’s creation, but the live action (and in English) film from DreamWorks is going to be based on the original book, rather than any derivative works. The screenplay will be written by William Wheeler (THE HOAX, THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST), Avi Arad and Steven Paul are producing. Word has is Paramount may co-produce the project.
A live action version of GHOST IN THE SHELL could be rather interesting, though the obvious questions are how much it would feel like Shirow’s work – it’s the same problem the long-rumored American version of AKIRA will face. The story here is set in the future where people can implement artificial cybernetic parts on their bodies, but the tech is flawed, and the brain becomes a target for hackers. Johansson’s character is part of a special unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission (will that stay the same?), tasked with finding a brain-hacking criminal known as The Puppet Masters.
Dreamworks, and more importantly Steven Spielberg, want this film to happen – Spielberg is a big fan of the original movie, and has been trying to get this going for years. With a name like Scarlett Johansson on board, this suddenly becomes a project to watch. She’ll soon be seen in The Coen Brothers’ HAIR, CAESAR!, Jon Favreau’s THE JUNGLE BOOK, and Joss Whedon’s sequel Marvel’s AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON. Are you excited to see her take on GHOST IN THE SHELL? Tell us in the comments below!
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
