Steeped in a particularly potent brand of cyberpunk, as promised, the first full trailer for Ghost in the Shell has debuted online, welcoming Scarlett Johansson in the kick-ass role of Major Motoko Kusanagi – or The Major, for short.
An insightful featurette notwithstanding, this is our first extended look at Rupert Sanders’ manga adaptation in action, after Paramount opted for a non-traditional rollout of hypnotic teasers that showcased the overcrowded dystopia of Ghost in the Shell – cyborg criminals and rampant extremists included – and little else.
That all changes with today’s grand and stunning reveal though, which comes packing some gorgeous visuals, impressive production design, a definite Blade Runner vibe and poetic action sequences that have our jaws on the floor. All in all, it’s a truly exciting look at what might just be one of next year’s most explosive films.
As for The Major, Johansson’s character is a special ops cyborg who spearheads an elite task force known as Section 9. Working under Hanka Robotics, they’re dispatched to rid the streets of dangerous criminals and, ultimately, The Laughing Man, though it’s still unclear if the über-villain will make an appearance in the 2017 adaptation.
What we do know is that Ghost in the Shell heralds another action-packed role for ScarJo following Lucy and Black Widow. Though there have been cries of whitewashing – many of which aren’t what one would label irrational – Johansson’s character is said to be part of an “international story,” one that features Game of Thrones star Pilou Asbæk as Batou, The Major’s trusted lieutenant.
Juliette Binoche, Takeshi Kitano, Michael Pitt and Kaori Momoi are also set to star, while the remaining members of Section 9 are to be filled out by Chin Han, Danusia Samal, Lasarus Ratuere, Yutaka Izumihara and Tuwanda Manyimo. It’s an impressive cast to be sure, and under the confident direction of Rupert Sanders, we can’t wait to see how it all comes together.
Ghost in the Shell is set to drop into theatres on March 31st, 2017. For more on the trailer, be sure to check out our detailed breakdown.
