After 6 to 7 years of talks and development, 'Ghost in the Shell Live Action' will finally be on set by January 2016. Despite doubts on the choice of director, Rupert Sanders and issue on Scarlett Johansson as lead, the lights are all go for filming early next year.
According to Franchise Herald, Scarlett Johansson will start filming in January 2016, before she starts filming for Avengers: Infinity War Part I and Part II. Johansson has confirmed that she has no knowledge of the cast, only that the director is Rupert Sanders. One of biggest female action stars, and superb acting skills, Johansson was chosen to play lead role Motoko Kusanagi.
Originally, Margot Robbie was to play the part but she ultimately chose to do Harley Quinn in 'Suicide Squad'. The casting of Western women in a non-Western role such as Asian has caused quite a stir these past few years, with people calling out on the rampant whitewashing in Hollywood. ScarJo's casting is not spared, as people question why actress Rinko Kikuchi was not cast.
Eyebrows are also raised as to whether the choice of director would prove to be right. Rupert Sanders has only 'Snow White and Huntsman' to his film directorial credit, which received mixed reviews. According to Movie Pilot, the 'Ghost in the Shell Live Action' is a complex and visually stunning material that will be a challenge even to veteran directors. Aside from Sanders' have scarce directorial credit, he also has to shift from fantasy to cyberpunk sci-fi.
The article is hopeful about the adaptation visually, given the 'Snow White and the Huntsman's' composition was fairly good. However, the crux is also about his storytelling and if he can maximize Johansson's talents. ScarJo' is an experienced and gifted actress as proven by her projects and Sanders has to be able to give her a script and directorial vision that will demonstrate that in the Ghost in the Shell movie.
As to why Dreamworks gave the big project to an inexperienced director is still unknown. The studio, owned by Steven Spielberg, may split from its partnership in Disney, and possibly a new deal with Universal Studios, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Paramount Pictures will still distribute the 'Ghost in the Shell Live Action' film overseas. What part Universal may play for this film is still premature talk.
Dreamworks was also reported to have paid $10 million for Scarlett Johansson to star in the 'Ghost in the Shell Live Action' film. With that kind of money, it is highly unlikely that Dreamworks will recast her. Having said that, ScarJo may hopefully just live up to the cyborg role albeit being non-Asian, with Rupert Sanders optimistically proving he has true talent as a director. Co-producing is Avi Arad, who also produced several fantasy movies, including Spiderman, Iron and X-men. Slated for 31 March 2017 release, 'Ghost in the Shell Live Action' filming is duly starting on January 2016, location most likely Japan.
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